Clara Smith

Clara Smith (March 13, 1894 – February 2, 1935) was an American classic female blues singer, billed as the "Queen of the Moaners", although she had a lighter and sweeter voice than many of her contemporaries. Clara Smith was not related to the singers Bessie Smith and Mamie Smith.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 23, 1894 (Spartanburg County), Died February 2, 1935 (Detroit)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1932

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, leader, composer, lyricist, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 149 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 81513 10-in. 1/31/1924 Chicago blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, leader  
Columbia 81514 10-in. 1/31/1924 31st Street blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, leader  
Columbia 81683 10-in. 4/10/1924 War horse mama Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81684 10-in. 4/10/1924 Cold weather papa Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81694 10-in. 4/17/1924 Back woods blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and ukulele vocalist  
Columbia 81695 10-in. 4/17/1924 West Indies blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and ukulele vocalist  
Columbia 81697 10-in. 4/17/1924 Mean papa turn in your key Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81698 10-in. 4/17/1924 The clearing house blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81722 10-in. 4/23/1924 Don't advertise your man Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with ukulele and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81723 10-in. 4/23/1924 Mama's gone, goodbye Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with ukulele and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81931 10-in. 8/19/1924 Deep blue sea blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with tenor saxophone and piano vocalist, composer  
Columbia 81932 10-in. 8/19/1924 Texas moaner blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with tenor saxophone and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140052 10-in. 9/20/1924 The basement blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140053 10-in. 9/20/1924 Mama's gone, goodbye Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140064 10-in. 9/30/1924 Freight train blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist, leader  
Columbia 140070 10-in. 9/18/1924 Deep blue sea blues Little Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (scat) composer  
Columbia 140076 10-in. 9/30/1924 Done sold my soul to the devil (and my heart's done turned to stone) Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140090 10-in. 10/7/1924 Broken busted blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140091 10-in. 10/7/1924 San Francisco blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140108 10-in. 10/15/1924 Death letter blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist, leader  
Columbia 140109 10-in. 10/15/1924 Prescription for the blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist, leader  
Columbia 140181 10-in. 12/16/1924 Steel drivin' Sam Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140182 10-in. 12/16/1924 He's mine, all mine Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140200 10-in. 12/20/1924 Nobody knows the way I feel dis mornin' Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140226 10-in. 1/7/1925 Nobody knows the way I feel dis mornin' Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
(Results 26-50 of 149 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Clara," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106278.

Smith, Clara. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106278.

"Smith, Clara." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106278

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