Mamie Smith nasceu no 26 de maio de 1883 em Ohio e muito embora não tenha sido considerada “tecnicamente” uma cantora de blues, ainda que negra, marcou o seu nome no cenário da musica americana por ter sido a primeira artista negra a gravar o blues vocal. O disco “Crazy Blues” (publicado no 10 de agosto de 1920) alcançou recorde de vendagem com 200 mil cópias nos primeiros 12 meses, ato contínuo, levou as gravadoras a considerar com maior atenção o grande potencial mercadológico dos “discos étnicos” que abriram as portas para Bessie Smith, (sem parentesco) e tantos outros artistas de blues e jazz.
Durante a sua carreira musical chegou a excursionar com uma banda chamada “Jazz Hounds” que contava com a participação dos gigantes do jazz Coleman Hawkins, Bubber Miley, Johnny Dunn e outros e também viajou com a banda de Andy Kirk e Fats Pichon
Mamie chegou a participar de vários filmes incluindo o “Paradise in Harlem” já no final de sua carreira.
Sua discografia é extensa e foi reeditada em lps pela “Document Label”. Em cd alguns estão disponíveis em sites especializados como a amazon.com.
Mamie Smith faleceu em 1946.
Though technically not truly a blues singer, although black, Ohio-born Mamie Smith, sang two blues numbers written for her by black songwriter Perry Bradford: That Thing Called Love (february 1920), notched her place in American music as the first black female artist to record a vocal blues, and Crazy Blues (august 1920), the first blues to become a nation-wide hit (with Willie Smith on piano). It sold 200,000 copies the first year. She was accompanied by the "Jazz Hounds", that featured Memphis trumpeter Johnny Dunn, the first master of the plunger mute. Such feat made record labels aware of the huge potential market for “race records”, thus paving the way for Bessie Smith (no relation) and other blues and jazz performers.
Before Smith's hit, blues music only catered to the underworld of brothels and vaudeville theaters. Afterwards, blues music became as "respectable" as the black syncopated orchestras, despite the fact that it was a music about sorrow instead of joy
An entertainer who sported a powerful, penetrating, feminine voice with belting vaudeville qualities, as opposed to blues inflections, Smith toured as a dancer with Tutt-Whitney's Smart Set Company in her early teens, and sang in Harlem clubs before World War I. Apparently, Smith’s pioneering recording session was an accident, since she was filling in for Sophie Tucker, but the success of the record made her wealthy. Soon thereafter, Smith began touring and recording with such jazz notables as Coleman Hawkins, Bubber Miley, Johnny Dunn, and more.
Durante a sua carreira musical chegou a excursionar com uma banda chamada “Jazz Hounds” que contava com a participação dos gigantes do jazz Coleman Hawkins, Bubber Miley, Johnny Dunn e outros e também viajou com a banda de Andy Kirk e Fats Pichon
Mamie chegou a participar de vários filmes incluindo o “Paradise in Harlem” já no final de sua carreira.
Sua discografia é extensa e foi reeditada em lps pela “Document Label”. Em cd alguns estão disponíveis em sites especializados como a amazon.com.
Mamie Smith faleceu em 1946.
Though technically not truly a blues singer, although black, Ohio-born Mamie Smith, sang two blues numbers written for her by black songwriter Perry Bradford: That Thing Called Love (february 1920), notched her place in American music as the first black female artist to record a vocal blues, and Crazy Blues (august 1920), the first blues to become a nation-wide hit (with Willie Smith on piano). It sold 200,000 copies the first year. She was accompanied by the "Jazz Hounds", that featured Memphis trumpeter Johnny Dunn, the first master of the plunger mute. Such feat made record labels aware of the huge potential market for “race records”, thus paving the way for Bessie Smith (no relation) and other blues and jazz performers.
Before Smith's hit, blues music only catered to the underworld of brothels and vaudeville theaters. Afterwards, blues music became as "respectable" as the black syncopated orchestras, despite the fact that it was a music about sorrow instead of joy
An entertainer who sported a powerful, penetrating, feminine voice with belting vaudeville qualities, as opposed to blues inflections, Smith toured as a dancer with Tutt-Whitney's Smart Set Company in her early teens, and sang in Harlem clubs before World War I. Apparently, Smith’s pioneering recording session was an accident, since she was filling in for Sophie Tucker, but the success of the record made her wealthy. Soon thereafter, Smith began touring and recording with such jazz notables as Coleman Hawkins, Bubber Miley, Johnny Dunn, and more.
She also appeared in several films, including Paradise in Harlem late in her life (1939). In the 1980s, all of her recordings were reissued on LP by the imported Document label.
Mamie Smith passed away in 1946.
Reference - Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide
Traducão Humberto Amorim
Mamie Smith passed away in 1946.
Reference - Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide
Traducão Humberto Amorim
No comments:
Post a Comment