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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 (Results 26-50 of 95 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 26-50 of 95 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Mamie," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109988.

Smith, Mamie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109988.

"Smith, Mamie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109988

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