| Birth: | May 1, 1924
Jackson
Madison County
Tennessee, USA | | Death: | Jan. 23, 1972
Cleveland
Cuyahoga County
Ohio, USA | 
Blues Singer. She was one of the most important blues vocalists of the twentieth century. Born in Jackson, Tennessee, the daughter of Frank and Alice Smith, she was raised singing in the church choir. She began touring in the 1940's and made recordings for the King Record label. She later performed with blues singer, Jimmy Witherspoon, and recorded for the OKeh Record label from 1952-1954. Big Maybelle opened a concert for the jazz singer, Billie Holiday. Billie is said to have refused to perform after Big Maybelle opened, because she felt she had been "outperformed." During the 1960's, she made appearances at the Apollo Theater and at Carnegie Hall before her career declined during the decade. She suffered from drug addiction and died from diabetic related causes in 1973. (bio by: Adam Maroney)
Search Amazon for Mabel Smith | | | Burial:
Evergreen Cemetery
Westlake
Cuyahoga County
Ohio, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: Adam Maroney
Record added: Oct 01, 2002
Find A Grave Memorial# 6815424 |
|
|
|
Do you have a photo to add? Click here |
(4.1 after 33 votes)
