Mamie Smith
Mamie Smith (née Robinson; May 26, 1891 – September 16, 1946) was an American singer. As a vaudeville singer, she performed in multiple styles, including jazz and blues. In 1920, she entered blues history as the first African-American artist to make vocal blues recordings. Willie "The Lion" Smith (no relation) described the background of these recordings in his autobiography Music on My Mind (1964). |
Birth and Death Data: Born May 26, 1883 (Cincinnati), Died September 16, 1946 (New York City)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1920 - 1931
Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, leader, songwriter
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | BVE-36069 | 10-in. | 8/27/1926 | Goin' crazy with the blues | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | BVE-36070 | 10-in. | 8/27/1926 | Sweet Virginia blues | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | BVE-36081 | 10-in. | 8/31/1926 | What have you done to make me feel this way | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | BVE-36082 | 10-in. | 8/31/1926 | I once was yours, I'm somebody else's now | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble | vocalist | |
| Victor | MVE-50603 | 16-in. | 4/9/1929 | Jailhouse blues | Mamie Smith | Motion picture soundtrack : Female vocal solo, with violin and piano | vocalist | |
| Victor | [Trial 1920-01-10-02] | Not documented | 1/10/1920 | That thing called love | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7275 | 10-in. | 2/14/1920 | That thing called love | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7276 | 10-in. | Feb. 1920 | You can't keep a good man down | Rega Orchestra ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7529 | 10-in. | 8/10/1920 | Crazy blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7539 | 10-in. | Aug. 1920 | It's right here for you (If you don't get it—'tain't no fault of mine) | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7540 | Not documented | Aug. 1920 | [Unknown title(s)] | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader, vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7589 | 10-in. | Sept. 1920 | Fare thee honey blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7590 | 10-in. | Sept. 1920 | The road is rocky (But I am gonna find my way) | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7642 | 10-in. | 11/5/1920 | Mem'ries of you, Mammy | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7643 | 10-in. | 11/5/1920 | If you don't want me blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7658 | 10-in. | Nov. 1920 | Don't care blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7659 | 10-in. | Nov. 1920 | Lovin' Sam from Alabam' | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7724 | 10-in. | Jan. 1921 | Royal Garden blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-7725 | 10-in. | Jan. 1921 | Jazz hound blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-7788 | 10-in. | Feb. 1921 | Jazzbo Ball | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7789 | 10-in. | Feb. 1921 | What have I done | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7790 | 10-in. | Feb. 1921 | That thing called love | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-7791 | 10-in. | Feb. 1921 | Old time blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-7792 | 10-in. | Feb. 1921 | Baby you made me fall for you | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-7793 | 10-in. | Feb. 1921 | You can't keep a good man down | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-7794 | 10-in. | Feb. 1921 | Frankie blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7795 | 10-in. | Feb. 1921 | "U" need some loving blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7959 | 10-in. | June 1921 | Dangerous blues | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-7960 | Not documented | June 1921 | [Unknown title(s)] | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70075 | 10-in. | Aug. 1921 | Daddy, your mama is lonesome for you | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader, vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-70076 | 10-in. | Aug. 1921 | I want a jazzy kiss | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70101 | 10-in. | Aug. 1921 | Sax-o-phoney blues | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70102 | 10-in. | Aug. 1921 | Sweet man o' mine | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70111 | 10-in. | 8/23/1921 | Mamma whip! Mamma spank! (If her daddy don't come home) | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70112 | 10-in. | 8/23/1921 | I'm free, single, disengaged, looking for someone to love | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70121 | 10-in. | Aug. 1921 | Weepin' | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader, vocalist, songwriter | |
| OKeh | S-70122 | 10-in. | Aug. 1921 | A-wearin' away the blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader, vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-70127 | 10-in. | Aug. 1921 | Down home blues | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70128 | 10-in. | Aug. 1921 | Get hot | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70130 | 10-in. | Aug. 1921 | Oh, Joe (Please don't go) | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70131 | 10-in. | Aug. 1921 | A little kind treatment (Is exactly what I need) | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70141 | 10-in. | Sept. 1921 | Arkansas blues | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70142 | 10-in. | Sept. 1921 | Wang wang blues | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70152 | 10-in. | Sept. 1921 | Stop! Rest a while | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader, vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-70153 | 10-in. | Sept. 1921 | Sweet Cookie | Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70246 | 10-in. | Oct. 1921 | Let's agree to disagree | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader, songwriter | |
| OKeh | S-70247 | 10-in. | Oct. 1921 | Rambling blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-70248 | 10-in. | Oct. 1921 | Cubanita | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-70468 | 10-in. | Feb. 1922 | The Decatur Street blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-70469 | 10-in. | Feb. 1922 | Carolina blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-70479 | 10-in. | Feb. 1922 | Doo dah blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70480 | 10-in. | Feb. 1922 | There's only one man (That satisfies me) | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70481 | 10-in. | Feb. 1922 | Wabash blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70650 | 10-in. | May 1922 | Mean daddy blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70651 | 10-in. | May 1922 | Dem knock-out blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader, vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-70654 | 10-in. | May 1922 | Lonesome mama blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70655 | 10-in. | May 1922 | New Orleans | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70729 | 10-in. | June 1922 | Mamie Smith blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader, songwriter | |
| OKeh | S-70730 | 10-in. | June 1922 | Alabama blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70777 | 10-in. | Aug. 1922 | Stuttering | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-70778 | 10-in. | Aug. 1922 | Those longing for you blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-70790 | 10-in. | Aug. 1922 | Got to cool my doggies now | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70791 | 10-in. | Aug. 1922 | You can have him, I don't want him, didn't love him anyhow blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader, vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-70792 | 10-in. | Aug. 1922 | Strut your material | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-70809 | 10-in. | Aug. 1922 | Wish that I could but I can't forgive you blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70810 | Not documented | Aug. 1922 | [Unknown title(s)] | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader, vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-70824 | 10-in. | Aug. 1922 | Sighin' around with the blues | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-70825 | 10-in. | Aug. 1922 | That da-da strain | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-71079 | 10-in. | Dec. 1922 | I ain't gonna give nobody none o' this jelly roll | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-71080 | 10-in. | Dec. 1922 | Don't mess with me | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-71085 | 10-in. | Dec. 1922 | Mean man | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-71086 | 10-in. | Dec. 1922 | The Darktown Flappers Ball | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-71111 | Not documented | Dec. 1922 | [Unknown title(s)] | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| OKeh | S-71112 | 10-in. | Dec. 1922 | I'm gonna get you | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, leader | |
| OKeh | S-71161 | 10-in. | January 1923 | You've got to see mamma ev'ry night (Or you can't see mamma at all) | Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader, vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71675 | 10-in. | July 1923 | You can't do what my last man did | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71676 | Not documented | July 1923 | [Unknown title(s)] | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71679 | Not documented | July 1923 | [Unknown title(s)] | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71680 | 10-in. | July 1923 | Good looking papa | Mamie Smith ; Clarence Williams | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71725 | 10-in. | August 1923 | Lady Luck blues | Harlem Trio ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71726 | 10-in. | August 1923 | Kansas City man blues | Harlem Trio ; Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71727 | 10-in. | August 1923 | Plain old blues | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with piano | songwriter, vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71728 | Not documented | Aug. 1923 | [Unknown title(s)] | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71759 | 10-in. | August 1923 | Mistreatin' daddy blues | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71760 | 10-in. | Aug. 1923 | Do it Mr. So and So | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71764 | 10-in. | Aug. 1923 | My mammy's blues | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist | |
| OKeh | S-71765 | Not documented | Aug. 1923 | [Unknown title(s)] | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist | |
| OKeh | W401760 | 10-in. | 3/30/1929 | Wonderful mammy | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | W401761 | 10-in. | 3/30/1929 | My sportin' man | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | W401762 | 10-in. | 3/30/1929 | The lure of the South | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | W401763 | 10-in. | 4/1/1929 | The show must go on | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | W404851 | 10-in. | 2/19/1931 | Golfing papa | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | W404852 | 10-in. | 2/19/1931 | Jenny's Ball | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | W404853 | 10-in. | 2/19/1931 | Keep a song in your soul | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist | |
| OKeh | W404866 | 10-in. | 2/19/1931 | Don’t you advertise your man | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Mamie," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109988.
Smith, Mamie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109988.
"Smith, Mamie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Mamie Smith
Discogs: Mamie Smith
Allmusic: Mamie Smith
Grove: Mamie Smith
IMDb: Mamie Smith
Britannica: Mamie Smith
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Smith, Mamie - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no94040741
Wikidata: Mamie Smith - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q274181
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/7584151
MusicBrainz: Mamie Smith - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/918aef2a-cce5-4747-a0f0-c33a8ec299cb
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