Ella Speed
Traditional
- Written by
- [Traditional]
- Publication date
- 1934
- Language
- English
- Comments
- One of the best known African American ballads in Texas. The song is about the killing of New Orleans prostitute Ella Speed by Louis "Bull" Martin, a local bartender and street tough on September 3, 1894. Martin shot Ella Speed to death after a night of heavy drinking and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
- Licensing
- Request a synchronization license