Blues Search Engine: Nora Jean Bruso

Nora Jean Bruso (nee Wallace) was born to sing the blues. Like so many blues greats she hails from the Delta of Mississippi, and was born and raised in Greenwood, a town in the heart of this blues rich region. From birth Nora Jean Bruso's father, Bobby Lee Wallace, a professional blues singer and sharecropper, and her Uncle, Henry "Son" Wallace, a blues singer and guitar player, infused the blues in her soul. Contributing to Nora Jean Bruso's musical education as well was her mother, Ida Lee Wallace, a gospel singer, and her grandmother, Mary, who ran a juke house. As a child Nora Jean Bruso would sneak down to her grandmother's place on Friday and Saturday nights and listen to her relatives sing blues classics. It was during these years that Nora Jean Bruso developed a love for the music of Howlin' Wolf that has continued to the present day. Nora Jean Bruso's singing career in Chicago began in 1976 when her Aunt Rose heard Nora sing at home and brought her to several clubs she was promoting. Nora Jean Bruso's big break came in 1985 when Jimmy Dawkins saw Nora perform at a local Chicago club and invited her to join his band. For the next seven years Nora Jean Bruso toured and recorded with Jimmy Dawkins and his band. During this time Nora appeared on two of Jimmy's CDs. In addition Nora Jean Bruso became a BMI affiliated songwriter and copyrighted many songs. Nora Jean Bruso appeared on many major festivals and was featured on the Front Page of the Chicago Tribune following her 1989 performance at the Chicago Blues Festival. During these years Nora Jean Bruso also sang occasionally with other major blues acts and remembers with special fondness her shows with Willie Kent and his band. By 1991 Nora Jean Bruso left the road and the blues world to raise her boys. Nora Jean Bruso is back in business since 2001. Nora appeared at the 2002 Chicago Blues Festival with the Jimmy Dawkins Band. In the same year, Nora recorded her first CD. Nora Jean Bruso was recently named one of the ten great women in Chicago Blues.