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 101-125 of 149 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Columbia	W144249	10-in.	6/1/1927	That's why the undertakers are busy today	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W144250	10-in.	6/1/1927	Black woman's blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano	lyricist, composer, vocalist
Columbia	W144527	10-in.	7/30/1927	Black cat moan	Clara Smith and her Five Black Kittens	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W144528	10-in.	7/30/1927	Strugglin' woman's blues	Clara Smith and her Five Black Kittens	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W146244	10-in.	5/10/1928	Jelly, look what you done done	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146245	10-in.	5/10/1928	It's all coming home to you	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146310	10-in.	5/21/1928	Down and out blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146311	10-in.	5/21/1928	Gin mill blues	Lemuel Fowler ; Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146324	10-in.	5/23/1928	Steamboat man blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146325	10-in.	5/23/1928	Sobbin' sister blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146507	10-in.	7/6/1928	Got my mind on that thing	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet	vocalist
Columbia	W146508	10-in.	7/6/1928	Ain't got nobody to grind my coffee	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet	vocalist
Columbia	W146636	10-in.	7/13/1928	Wanna go home	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cello and organ	vocalist
Columbia	W146828	10-in.	8/9/1928	Ain't got nobody to grind my coffee	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet	vocalist
Columbia	W147851	10-in.	1/17/1929	Tell me when	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W147852	10-in.	1/17/1929	Empty house blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W147889	10-in.	1/26/1929	Daddy don't put that thing on me blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W147890	10-in.	1/26/1929	It's tight like that	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148970	10-in.	9/4/1929	Papa, I don't need you now	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148971	10-in.	9/4/1929	Tired of the way you do	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148972	10-in.	9/4/1929	Breath and breeches	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148994	10-in.	9/12/1929	Oh! Mister Mitchell	James P. Johnson ; Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148995	10-in.	9/12/1929	Where is my man	James P. Johnson ; Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W149632	10-in.	12/31/1929	You can't stay here no more	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, cornet, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W149633	10-in.	12/31/1929	Let's get loose	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, cornet, and piano	vocalist

(Results 101-125 of 149 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Clara," accessed September 23, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106278.

Smith, Clara. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved September 23, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106278.

"Smith, Clara." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 23 September 2023.