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

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BVE-36069	10-in.	8/27/1926	Goin' crazy with the blues	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble	vocalist
Victor	BVE-36070	10-in.	8/27/1926	Sweet Virginia blues	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble	vocalist
Victor	BVE-36081	10-in.	8/31/1926	What have you done to make me feel this way	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble	vocalist
Victor	BVE-36082	10-in.	8/31/1926	I once was yours, I'm somebody else's now	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble	vocalist
Victor	MVE-50603	16-in.	4/9/1929	Jailhouse blues	Mamie Smith	Motion picture soundtrack : Female vocal solo, with violin and piano	vocalist
Victor	[Trial 1920-01-10-02]	Not documented	1/10/1920	That thing called love	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	S-7275	10-in.	2/14/1920	That thing called love	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7276	10-in.	Feb. 1920	You can't keep a good man down	Rega Orchestra ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7529	10-in.	8/10/1920	Crazy blues	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7539	10-in.	Aug. 1920	It's right here for you (If you don't get it—'tain't no fault of mine)	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7540	Not documented	Aug. 1920	[Unknown title(s)]	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	leader, vocalist
OKeh	S-7589	10-in.	Sept. 1920	Fare thee honey blues	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7590	10-in.	Sept. 1920	The road is rocky (But I am gonna find my way)	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7642	10-in.	11/5/1920	Mem'ries of you, Mammy	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7643	10-in.	11/5/1920	If you don't want me blues	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7658	10-in.	Nov. 1920	Don't care blues	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7659	10-in.	Nov. 1920	Lovin' Sam from Alabam'	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7724	10-in.	Jan. 1921	Royal Garden blues	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	S-7725	10-in.	Jan. 1921	Jazz hound blues	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	S-7788	10-in.	Feb. 1921	Jazzbo Ball	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7789	10-in.	February 1921	What have I done	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-7790	10-in.	Feb. 1921	That thing called love	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	S-7791	10-in.	Feb. 1921	Old time blues	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	S-7792	10-in.	Feb. 1921	Baby you made me fall for you	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Jazz/dance band	leader
OKeh	S-7793	10-in.	Feb. 1921	You can't keep a good man down	Jazz Hounds ; Mamie Smith	Jazz/dance band	leader
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
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	vocalist, leader
OKeh	S-71675	10-in.	July 1923	You can't do what my last man did	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	S-71676	Not documented	July 1923	[Unknown title(s)]	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	S-71679	Not documented	July 1923	[Unknown title(s)]	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	S-71680	10-in.	July 1923	Good looking papa	Mamie Smith ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	S-71725	10-in.	August 1923	Lady Luck blues	Harlem Trio ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio	vocalist
OKeh	S-71726	10-in.	August 1923	Kansas City man blues	Harlem Trio ; Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio	vocalist
OKeh	S-71727	10-in.	August 1923	Plain old blues	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, songwriter
OKeh	S-71728	Not documented	Aug. 1923	[Unknown title(s)]	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	S-71759	10-in.	August 1923	Mistreatin' daddy blues	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	S-71760	10-in.	Aug. 1923	Do it Mr. So and So	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	S-71764	10-in.	Aug. 1923	My mammy's blues	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	S-71765	Not documented	Aug. 1923	[Unknown title(s)]	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	W401760	10-in.	3/30/1929	Wonderful mammy	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	W401761	10-in.	3/30/1929	My sportin' man	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	W401762	10-in.	3/30/1929	The lure of the South	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	W401763	10-in.	4/1/1929	The show must go on	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	W404851	10-in.	2/19/1931	Golfing papa	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	W404852	10-in.	2/19/1931	Jenny's Ball	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	W404853	10-in.	2/19/1931	Keep a song in your soul	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	W404866	10-in.	2/19/1931	Don’t you advertise your man	Mamie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Mamie," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109988.

Smith, Mamie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109988.

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