Laura Smith (blues singer)
| Laura Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Unknown probably Indianapolis, United States |
| Died |
February 1932 Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Classic female blues, country blues[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1924–1927 (recording career) |
| Labels | Okeh, Victor |
| Associated acts | Clarence Williams, Perry Bradford |
Laura Smith (unknown – February 1932) was an American classic female blues and country blues singer.[1] She is best known for her recordings of "Gonna Put You Right in Jail" and her version of "Don't You Leave Me Here". She led Laura Smith and her Wild Cats and also worked with Clarence Williams and Perry Bradford.[2] Details of her life outside the music industry are scanty.[1]
Biography
Smith was probably born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her date of birth is unknown. In the early 1920s, she toured the Theater Owners Bookers Association circuit. Her recording career started in 1924 with Okeh and ended just three years later, when she recorded some tracks for Victor.[1] The music journalist Scott Yanow noted that her earliest recordings were her strongest: "by the time she recorded "Don't You Leave Me Here" in 1927, much of the power was gone".[3] Her recordings include two songs, "The Mississippi Blues" and "Lonesome Refugee", about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.[4] She recorded a total of 35 songs.
She was one of several unrelated women named Smith (Mamie, Bessie, Clara and Trixie) who recorded blues songs.[1]
It was reported that by 1926 Smith was married to a comedian, Slim Jones, and was living in Baltimore.[5]
Her most notable number, "Don't You Leave Me Here", was made more famous by a version recorded by Jelly Roll Morton some ten year later.[1]
Smith died of long-term effects of hypertension in February 1932 in Los Angeles.[1][2]
All her available recordings have been released on CD by Document Records (see below). She is not to be confused with the latter-day Canadian folk singer-songwriter, of the same name.
Discography
Compilation albums
| Album title | Record label | Year of release |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, vol. 1, 1924–1927, Laura Smith | Document Records | 1996 |
| Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, vol. 2, 1923–1927, Edna Hicks, Hazel Meyers, Laura Smith | Document Records | 1996 |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 DePasquale, Ron. "Laura Smith". Allmusic. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
- 1 2 Doc Rock. "The 50s and Earlier". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
- ↑ Yanow, Scott. "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1924–27) – Laura Smith | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
- ↑ "Big Road Blues – Lucille Bogan et al". Sundayblues.org. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
- ↑ Hay, Fred J. (2001). Goin' Back to Sweet Memphis: Conversations with the Blues. Athens: University of Georgia Press. pp. 162–163. ISBN 978-0-8203-2732-7.
- ↑ "Laura Smith | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
- ↑ Yanow, Scott. "Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 (1923–1927) – Edna Hicks | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
External links
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