Clara Smith
One of the legendary unrelated Smith singers of the 1920s, Clara Smith was never on Bessie's level or as significant as Mamie but she had something of her own to offer. She began working on the theatre circuit and in vaudeville around 1910, learning her craft during the next 13 years while traveling throughout the South. In 1923 Clara Smith came to New York and she recorded steadily for Columbia through 1932, cutting 122 songs often with the backing of top musicians (especially after 1925) including Louis Armstrong, Charlie Green, Joe Smith, Freddy Jenkins and James P. Johnson (in 1929). Plus she recorded two vocal duets with Bessie Smith and four with Lonnie Johnson. She was billed as the "Queen of the Moaners" although Smith actually had a lighter and sweeter voice than her contemporaries and main competitors. She performed throughout the country (even appearing on the West Coast during 1924-25) and in Harlem revues during her prime years. Clara Smith was active until shortly before her death in 1935 from heart failure at the age of 40.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Discography
14 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Clara Smith Vol. 2 (1924)
Blues - Released by Document Records on Jun 28, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Clara Smith Vol. 3 (1925)
Blues - Released by Document Records on Jun 28, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Clara Smith Vol. 1 (1923-1924)
Blues - Released by Document Records on Jun 28, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Clara Smith Vol. 6 (1930-1932)
Blues - Released by Document Records on Jun 28, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Clara Smith Vol. 5 (1927-1929)
Blues - Released by Document Records on Jun 28, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Clara Smith Vol. 4 (1926-1927)
Blues - Released by Document Records on Jun 28, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Best Of The Blues
Blues - Released by Nifty Music, Inc. on May 1, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Presenting Clara Smith
Blues - Released by Universal Digital Enterprises on May 27, 1923
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Deep Blue Sea Blues (Remaster)
Blues - Released by Emmington on Dec 9, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Deep Blue Sea Blues
Miscellaneous - Released by Zip Media Ltd on Nov 26, 1923
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Court House Blues
Miscellaneous - Released by Zip Media Ltd on May 28, 1928
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo