Esther Mabry RIP

From Bob Corritore

• RIP Esther Mabry (aka Mama Nip) - May 25, 1920 to May 31, 2010 - She was 90 years old. Esther Mabry is best known in the Oakland, California area for owning and operating a legendary blues club called Esther's Orbit Room. After moving from Texas to Oakland in her early 20s, she opened Esther's Breakfast Room in 1950. Nine years later, she and her husband William bought the building and expanded it to offer live music and cocktails. So began Esther's Orbit Room, a club that would be known in the Bay Area for appearances by B.B. King, Charles Brown, Lou Rawls, T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Ike & Tina Turner, Jimmy McCracklin, Big Mama Thornton, Lowell Fulson, Al Green, Etta James, and others. The club ran until just last year, when Esther's health problems dictated that she close the business after its glorious 59 year run. Esther was a behind the scenes hero of the blues who was not well known outside of her community, but people like Esther are the backbone and the spirit of this industry. and the provider of a place for blues musicians to play. God bless you Esther for all you did. To see her 2008 induction in the West Coast Hall Of Fame click here. To read more about Esther Mabry click here, and here.