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 126-149 of 149 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W150649 10-in. 7/21/1930 Don't fool around on me Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W150650 10-in. 7/21/1930 Down in the mouth blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W150684 10-in. 8/1/1930 Why can't you do it now? Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W150685 10-in. 8/1/1930 Low land moan Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W150783 10-in. 9/9/1930 Woman to woman Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W150927 10-in. 10/31/1930 You're getting old on your job Tommy Jordan ; Clara Smith Female-male vocal duet ("blues singers"), with guitar and piano vocalist  
Columbia W150928 10-in. 10/31/1930 What makes you act like that Tommy Jordan ; Clara Smith Female-male vocal duet ("blues singers"), with guitar and piano vocalist  
Columbia W151401 10-in. 3/7/1931 I want a two-fisted double jointed man Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W151402 10-in. 3/7/1931 Good times (Come on back once more) Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W151706 10-in. 8/4/1931 Ol' Sam Tages Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W151707 10-in. 8/4/1931 Unemployed papa—charity workin' mama Asbestos Burns ; Clara Smith Female-male vocal duet ("blues singers"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W151810 10-in. 9/25/1931 For sale (Hannah Johnson's jack ass) Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W151811 10-in. 9/25/1931 You dirty dog Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W152076 10-in. 1/18/1932 Street department papa Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W152077 10-in. 1/18/1932 Pictures on the wall Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W152159 10-in. 3/25/1932 (I'm tired of) Fattenin' frogs for snakes Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W152160 10-in. 3/25/1932 So long, Jim Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
OKeh S-73100 10-in. 1/14/1925 Deep blue sea blues The Goofus Five Jazz/dance ensemble composer  
OKeh W404523 10-in. 10/31/1930 You had too much Violet Green ; Lonnie Johnson Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist  
OKeh W404524 10-in. 10/31/1930 Don’t wear it out Violet Green ; Lonnie Johnson Female-male vocal duet, with guitar vocalist  
Gennett 12899 10-in. 6/27/1927 Wandering boy blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano vocalist  
Gennett 12900 10-in. 6/27/1927 Sand raisin' blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano vocalist  
Gennett 12904 10-in. 6/28/1927 Clara blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano vocalist  
Gennett 12905 10-in. 6/28/1927 After you've gone away Clara Smith Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano vocalist  
(Results 126-149 of 149 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Clara," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106278.

Smith, Clara. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106278.

"Smith, Clara." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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