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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 51-75 of 95 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 51-75 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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