If I love Shug Avery's song from The Color Purple, what else would I love?

Cafe Society
1

The character Shug Avery sang Miss Celie’s Blues in the film The Color Purple. It’s lovely - I want more. What early blues female singers can you recommend to me? I am completely ignorant of the genre and period, and don’t know where to start.

Thanks!

2

You can sample a few here (male, too): http://www.publicdomain4u.com/