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 26-50 of 149 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Columbia	81513	10-in.	1/31/1924	Chicago blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	leader, vocalist
Columbia	81514	10-in.	1/31/1924	31st Street blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	leader, vocalist
Columbia	81683	10-in.	4/10/1924	War horse mama	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81684	10-in.	4/10/1924	Cold weather papa	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81694	10-in.	4/17/1924	Back woods blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and ukulele	vocalist
Columbia	81695	10-in.	4/17/1924	West Indies blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and ukulele	vocalist
Columbia	81697	10-in.	4/17/1924	Mean papa turn in your key	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81698	10-in.	4/17/1924	The clearing house blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81722	10-in.	4/23/1924	Don't advertise your man	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with ukulele and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81723	10-in.	4/23/1924	Mama's gone, goodbye	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with ukulele and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81931	10-in.	8/19/1924	Deep blue sea blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with tenor saxophone and piano	composer, vocalist
Columbia	81932	10-in.	8/19/1924	Texas moaner blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with tenor saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140052	10-in.	9/20/1924	The basement blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140053	10-in.	9/20/1924	Mama's gone, goodbye	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140064	10-in.	9/30/1924	Freight train blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	leader, vocalist
Columbia	140070	10-in.	9/18/1924	Deep blue sea blues	Little Ramblers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (scat)	composer
Columbia	140076	10-in.	9/30/1924	Done sold my soul to the devil (and my heart's done turned to stone)	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140090	10-in.	10/7/1924	Broken busted blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140091	10-in.	10/7/1924	San Francisco blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140108	10-in.	10/15/1924	Death letter blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	leader, vocalist
Columbia	140109	10-in.	10/15/1924	Prescription for the blues	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	leader, vocalist
Columbia	140181	10-in.	12/16/1924	Steel drivin' Sam	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140182	10-in.	12/16/1924	He's mine, all mine	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140200	10-in.	12/20/1924	Nobody knows the way I feel dis mornin'	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140226	10-in.	1/7/1925	Nobody knows the way I feel dis mornin'	Clara Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist

(Results 26-50 of 149 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Clara," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106278.

Smith, Clara. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106278.

"Smith, Clara." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.