Mamie Smith

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
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 November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109988.

Smith, Mamie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109988.

"Smith, Mamie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.