Mamie Smith biography –

Mamie Smith Born: May 26, 1883, Cincinnati, Ohio

Died: October 30, 1946, New York, New York

Mamie Smith was primarily a cabaret and vaudeville singer, but she made blues history by being the first singer to record a blues song. “Crazy Blues,” recorded in 1920, was a huge hit, selling more than one million copies within a year of its release. This success inspired the release of further blues recordings by female artists. So, although Smith technically wasn’t a blues singer, she was a groundbreaking and influential artist for the genre. Her majestic stage presence and ornate costumes and jewelry also influenced other female blues singers of the twenties.

Mamie Smith on record

Essential listening: “Crazy Blues,” “It’s Right Here for You,” “You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down,” “That Thing Called Love”

Crazy Blues lyrics

I can’t sleep at night
I can’t eat a bite
‘Cause the man I love
He don’t treat me right

He makes me feel so blue
I don’t know what to do
Sometime I sit and sigh
And then begin to cry
‘Cause my best friend
Said his last goodbye

There’s a change in the ocean
Change in the deep blue sea, my baby
I’ll tell you folks, there ain’t no change in me
My love for that man will always be

Now I can read his letters
I sure can’t read his mind
I thought he’s lovin’ me
He’s leavin’ all the time
Now I see my poor love was blind

Now I got the crazy blues
Since my baby went away
I ain’t got no time to lose
I must find him today
Now the doctor’s gonna do all that he can
But what you’re gonna need is an undertaker man
I ain’t had nothin’ but bad news
Now I got the crazy blues

Mamie Smith photo gallery