Clara Smith

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Clara Smith
BornMarch 13, 1894
Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States
Died(1935-02-02)February 2, 1935 (aged 40)
Detroit, Michigan, United States
GenresClassic female blues
Occupation(s)Singer
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1910–1935
LabelsColumbia

Clara Smith (March 13, 1894 – February 2, 1935)[1] was one of the first of the Blues Divas. She was an American classic female blues singer, billed as the "Queen of the Moaners",[1] 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.

Early life[]

Clara Smith was born in September 1892 to parents Selena and William Smith in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.[2] She is not believed to have any siblings. Clara was never enrolled in school but was recorded on the census as able to read and write.[2] Blues historians thinks that Clara most likely was introduced in her youth to "traveling tent shows"[3] that frequently stopped in Spartanburg and sparked her interest in performance.

Career[]

In 1910, Smith began working on African-American theater circuits, in tent shows, and vaudeville. By the late 1918[4] she was appearing as a headliner with the Theater Owners Bookers Association circuit across Southern states. By 1923, she had performed at major theatres of the time such as the Lyric in New Orleans, the Dream Theatre in Columbus, Georgia, the Bijou Theatre in Nashville, and the Booker T. Washington Theatre in St. Louis.[2]

In 1923, she settled in New York City, appearing at cabarets and speakeasies there. She was immediately signed by Columbia Records. That same year she made the first of her commercially successful series of gramophone recordings with Columbia Records,[5] working with many other musicians such as Fletcher Henderson, Louis Armstrong,[6] and Don Redman.[7] She recorded two duets with Bessie Smith: "My Man Blues" and "Far Away Blues" (Columbia 14098-D), on September 1, 1925. She recorded Tom Delaney's "Troublesome Blues" in 1927.[8] Clara's music began as gloomy accounts of love lost, however, she progressed to more upbeat songs. Her May 1926 recording of "Whip It to a Jelly", was noted as "one of the more overt sexual blues". Clara recorded exclusively with Columbia records, amassing a total of 122 tracks,[9] with her record sales being topped only by Bessie Smith. Clara was known all across the country, even performing on the West coast, which was rare for a Blues singer.[10]

During her time performing, Clara met young Josephine Baker and chose to mentor to her.[2] Clara Smith is also accredited for giving Josephine Baker her start in the recording business, having hired her as a dresser for her at the age of 13.[11] Clara and Josephine Baker are thought to have had a romantic relationship for a time,[12] notably being referred to as "lady lovers"[2] by a colleague.

In 1933 she was on the road in Detroit, Michigan, and worked at theaters in revues there until her hospitalization in early 1935 for heart disease, of which she later died.[3]

See also

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Yanow, Scott. "Clara Smith: Artist Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Caitlin, Rimmer (2019). "Queer and Moaning: Queen of the Moaners Clara Smith". doi:10.17615/V53Z-Y093. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Writer, Linda Conley Staff. "Clara Smith: 'Queen of the Moaners'". GoUpstate. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  4. ^ Kernfield, Barry (1988). New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, Vol. 3. Macmillan. p. 608.
  5. ^ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 12. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  6. ^ Abrams, Steven; Settlemier, Tyrone. The Online Discographical Project: Columbia A3500–A4001 (1921–1923) Numerical Listing. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  7. ^ Southern, Eileen (1982). Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians. Greenwood Press.
  8. ^ Chadbourne, Eugene. "Tom Delaney: Artist Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-08-04.
  9. ^ "Smith, Clara - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  10. ^ Rye, Howard (2003). "Smith, Clara". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J415300. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  11. ^ "Clara & Josephine". www.oxfordamerican.org. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  12. ^ Board, Editorial (2019-05-28). "The Queer Moan of Clara Smith: On Queer Aphasia in Blues Studies". The Activist History Review. Retrieved 2021-02-18.

External links[]

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