(1900 - 1953 ? or 1965)

Josephine Miles was born in Summerville, South Carolina around 1900 and had become an established blues singer working in vaudeville who wound up in New York City by 1920. Josie was part of the original cast of Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle's 1921 landmark Broadway musical "Shuffle Along" and began making records for Black Swan in 1922. She went on to tour the theater circuit with her accompanying band the "Black Swan Troubadours" and in 1923 landed a role in another tremendously influential Broadway musical revue, James P. Johnson's "Runnin' Wild". Also appearing on local radio station WDT Josie made he last records in 1925 and by 1930 had retired from secular music relocating to Kansas City where she devoted her life to the church. Josie Miles was reportedly killed in an automobile accident during the 1950's or mid-'60's.