Kate Smith

Kate Smith

Kathryn Elizabeth Smith (May 1, 1907 – June 17, 1986) was an American contralto. Referred to as The First Lady of Radio, Smith is well known for her renditions of "God Bless America" and "When the Moon Comes over the Mountain". She became known as The Songbird of the South because of her tremendous popularity during World War II.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 1, 1907 (Greenville), Died June 17, 1986 (Raleigh)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal, songwriter, lyricist, vocalist

= 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
Victor	BVE-36396	10-in.	10/7/1926	White house	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BVE-36397	10-in.	10/7/1926	Mary dear	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BVE-36398	10-in.	10/7/1926	Jersey walk	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BRC-68271	10-in.	7/21/1931	When the moon comes over the mountain	Milton Charles	Male vocal solo, with piano	songwriter
Victor	BRC-69970	10-in.	6/23/1931	Makin' faces at the man in the moon	Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and whistling solo	lyricist
Victor	BRC-69990	10-in.	6/30/1931	When the moon comes over the mountain	Ben W. Gordon ; Leo Reisman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BRC-70201	10-in.	7/21/1931	When the moon comes over the mountain	Bud Billings ; Carson Robison	Male vocal duet, with instrumental quartet	songwriter
Victor	BS-017776	10-in.	12/28/1937	When the moon comes over the mountain	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with male vocal ensemble and jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-017777	10-in.	12/28/1937	There's a gold mine in the sky	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-017778	10-in.	12/28/1937	You're a sweetheart	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-017779	10-in.	12/28/1937	Bei mir bist du schön	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-035319	10-in.	3/21/1939	God bless America	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with mixed vocal chorus and orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-035320	10-in.	3/21/1939	The star spangled banner	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with mixed vocal chorus and orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-035321	10-in.	3/21/1939	It's never too late	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-035322	10-in.	3/21/1939	I cried for you	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-035753	10-in.	4/17/1939	Don't worry 'bout me	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-035754	10-in.	4/17/1939	If I had my way	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-035755	10-in.	4/17/1939	And the angels sing	Jack Miller ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-035756	10-in.	4/17/1939	If I didn't care	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BRC-Test-1118	10-in.	7/1/1931	I'm thru with love	Frances Langford	Female vocal solo, with piano	lyricist
Victor	[Trial 1926-09-16-01]	10-in.	9/16/1926	Mary dear	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	[Trial 1926-09-16-02]	10-in.	9/16/1926	White house	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	[Trial 1926-09-16-03]	10-in.	9/16/1926	Jersey walk	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W142884	10-in.	10/28/1926	The little white house	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W142885	10-in.	10/28/1926	Mary dear	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W142886	10-in.	10/28/1926	Jersey walk	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W143476	10-in.	2/14/1927	One sweet letter from you	Charleston Chasers ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W143477	10-in.	2/14/1927	I'm gonna meet my sweetie now	Charleston Chasers ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W144233	10-in.	5/26/1927	In the evening	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W144234	10-in.	5/26/1927	Just another day wasted away (Waiting for you)	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W144522	10-in.	7/28/1927	Worryin'	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W144523	10-in.	7/28/1927	A little smile, a little kiss	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W144524	10-in.	7/28/1927	Clementine (From New Orleans)	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]148806	10-in.	7/12/1929	He's a good man to have around	The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]148807	10-in.	7/12/1929	Maybe—who knows?	The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]148937	10-in.	8/27/1929	Moanin' low	The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]148938	10-in.	8/27/1929	Waiting at the end of the road	The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]149457	10-in.	11/1/1929	I may be wrong, but I think you're wonderful!	The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]149458	10-in.	11/1/1929	Love (Your spell is everywhere)	Harmonians ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]149651	10-in.	11/29/1929	Chant of the jungle	The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]149652	10-in.	11/29/1929	That wonderful something (Is love)	The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W149722	10-in.	12/13/1929	St. Louis blues	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W149723	10-in.	12/13/1929	Frankie and Johnny	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]150447	10-in.	5/20/1930	Sharing	The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]150448	10-in.	5/20/1930	Dancing with tears in my eyes	The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W150631	10-in.	7/8/1930	Don't let me hold you, baby mine	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]150632	10-in.	7/8/1930	I don't want mind walkin' in the rain (When I'm walkin' in the rain with you)	The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]150633	10-in.	7/8/1930	Swingin' in a hammock	The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W150634	10-in.	7/8/1930	You'll be coming back to me	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]150835	10-in.	9/23/1930	Maybe it's love	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]150836	10-in.	9/23/1930	You'll never know, sweetheart	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]150937	10-in.	11/6/1930	Here comes the sun	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]150938	10-in.	11/6/1930	I got rhythm	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W150958	10-in.	11/17/1930	Morning, noon and night	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W150959	10-in.	11/17/1930	Held by the spell of the moon	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]151247	10-in.	1/29/1931	Overnight	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]151248	10-in.	1/29/1931	Reaching for the moon	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]151251	10-in.	1/29/1931	Grievin'	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	[W]151252	10-in.	1/29/1931	You don't want me any more	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151419	10-in.	3/13/1931	You didn't have to tell me (I knew it all the time)	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151420	10-in.	3/13/1931	Wabash moon	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151421	10-in.	3/13/1931	Now's the time	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151422	10-in.	3/13/1931	At dusk	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151449	10-in.	3/20/1931	Dinah Lee from Tennessee	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151450	10-in.	3/20/1931	You didn't have to tell me (I knew it all the time)	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151592	10-in.	6/9/1931	Makin' faces at the man in the moon	Smith Ballew Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Columbia	W151735	10-in.	8/17/1931	If I have to go on without you	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151736	10-in.	8/17/1931	When the moon comes over the mountain	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	songwriter, vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151786	10-in.	9/15/1931	You call it madness	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151787	10-in.	9/15/1931	I don't know why	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151866	10-in.	10/28/1931	That's why darkies were born	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W151867	10-in.	10/28/1931	Tell me with a love song	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W152031	10-in.	12/8/1931	Too late	Guy Lombardo ; Royal Canadians ; Kate Smith	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W152032	10-in.	12/8/1931	River, stay 'way from my door	Guy Lombardo ; Royal Canadians ; Kate Smith	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W152096	10-in.	1/28/1932	In the baggage coach ahead	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W152099	10-in.	1/29/1932	Twenty-one years	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W152111	10-in.	Feb. 1932	My mom	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W152121	10-in.	3/1/1932	Snuggled on your shoulder (Cuddled in your arms)	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W152122	10-in.	3/1/1932	Love, you funny thing!	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W113191	10-in.	November 1931	Diay bantay ti bulan no lumgac (When the moon comes over the mountain)	Pedro A. Ramajo	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	songwriter
Columbia	W351013	10-in.	4/22/1931	When the moon comes over the mountain	Selvin’s Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal duet	songwriter
Columbia	W351044	10-in.	6/18/1931	Makin' faces at the man in the moon	Selvin’s Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Columbia	W351079	10-in.	7/24/1931	When the moon comes over the mountain	Frank Ferera's Hawaiian Trio	Instrumental trio (Hawaiian), with male vocal solo	songwriter
Columbia	W365025	10-in.	7/7/1931	Makin' faces at the man in the moon	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal, lyricist
Columbia	W365026	10-in.	7/7/1931	When the moon comes over the mountain	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal, songwriter
Columbia	W365031	10-in.	9/15/1931	Shine on, harvest moon	Ruth Brown [Kate Smith]	Female vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W365032	10-in.	9/15/1931	I apologize	Ruth Brown [Kate Smith]	Female vocal solo	vocalist
Columbia	W365038	10-in.	10/28/1931	You try somebody else (We'll be back together again)	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W365039	10-in.	10/28/1931	Good night, sweetheart	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W365048	10-in.	12/10/1931	River stay 'way from my door	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W365049	10-in.	12/10/1931	All of me	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W365059	10-in.	1/28/1932	Just friends	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Columbia	W365060	10-in.	1/28/1932	Between the devil and the deep blue sea	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	E36197	10-in.	2/27/1931	When the moon comes over the mountain	Frankie Marvin	Male vocal solo, with 2 violins and guitar	songwriter
Brunswick	E36861	10-in.	6/12/1931	Makin’ faces at the man in the moon	Snooks Friedman Memphis Stompers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Brunswick	E36895	10-in.	6/30/1931	When the moon comes over the mountain	Crooning Troubadours ; Nick Lucas	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Brunswick	E37080	10-in.	8/17/1931	Makin’ faces at the man in the moon	Boswell Sisters ; The New Yorkers [Bill Challis Orchestra]	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal trio	lyricist
Brunswick	XC7960	12-in.	8/19/1931	When the moon comes over the mountain	Lester McFarland and Robert A. Gardner	Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin	songwriter
Decca	38928	10-in.	10/31/1934	The Continental	Kate Smith		vocalist, soprano vocal
Decca	38937	10-in.	11/1/1934	College rhythm-1	Kate Smith		vocalist, soprano vocal
Decca	38938	10-in.	11/1/1934	Let's give three cheers to love-1	Kate Smith		vocalist, soprano vocal
Decca	38939	10-in.	11/1/1934	When my ship comes in	Kate Smith		vocalist, soprano vocal
Decca	38940	10-in.	11/1/1934	I'm growing fonder of you	Kate Smith		vocalist, soprano vocal
Decca	38941	10-in.	11/1/1934	Stay as sweet as you are	Kate Smith		vocalist, soprano vocal

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Kate," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104568.

Smith, Kate. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104568.

"Smith, Kate." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.