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Tuesday, April 24, 2012


Interviewing Mamie Smith

1. Q: Describe where you are from and give us information about your family?
A: Well as you know my name is Mamie smith. I am from Cincinnati Ohio. I was born with the name Mamie Robinson on May 26 1883. I married a man named William Smith. When I was young I started work early. First I started off dancing and it lead to singing once I left a group called the “Ttutt Brothers”.

2. Q: What events in your early life made you get interested in the arts?
A: In the event that I started singing at an early age. I sang in groups that really fit me. When I was young I was not only just a vocalist. I also danced and acted along with being a vocalist. I danced with an act called “The Four Dancing Mitchells.

3. Q: What role did mentors play in helping you develop the interests and talents you have as an artist?
A: Perry Bradford helped me through most of my life. He was also my producer. Actually I consider anybody that got me to where I am today is a mentor to me. My parents, the bands, my fans, my producers, everyone. But most of all, the one that got me to where I am today would have to be my lord and savior Jesus Christ.

4. Q: What was the world of art like in your particular art field when you entered it?
A: When I entered the world of jazz music, I was a very little girl but as my carrier progressed to something greater that what it was before, the environment was amazing and I loved every bit of it. I stared to write more songs and they became hits.

5. Q: How did the major cultural, economic and political situations of the time impact your work?
A: Like any other normal person I had my share of economic issues. When my hit “Crazy Blues” came out it was inspiring because it opened doors of the recording industry to African- Americans whether they were blues or jazz singers and musicians. That record sold me over 2 million copies.  Not many female artists could match the sales that I made off “Crazy Blues”.

7. Q: What were the key opportunities you had that led to turning points in your life and art?
A: Any opportunity in which I was performing I call high points of art in my life. My manager Perry Bradford convinced Okeh Records that there was a market for earthier Blues records aimed at the large number of African-Americans who had migrated to the big cities of the north. So when my manager talked to them he put together a group called the “Jazz Hounds”. As far as touring any gig that I had was a tour to me.

8. Q: Who are people that you admire both in the arts and beyond and why do they inspire you?
A: I admire anybody that performs for me. But in this case someone that I really look up to would have to be Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Victoria Spivey. They were very close to my style of music. I liked the way they were similar to me in that way.

10. Q:  What personal stories (anecdotes) best illustrate how you became successful in the arts?
A: I just remember when I was younger I used to many things including acting dancing along with singing so that I would say was what really illustrated my life in becoming the artists I am today.


Thursday, April 5, 2012

These are the lyrics to two of my songs


Down Home Blues

written by: Perry Bradford 

I never felt 
So lonesome before; 
My friend has quit me;
He's gone for sure;
He broke my heart,
For I loved him true;
So now I'm worried, 
Lonesome and blue. 
I've got the blues on my mind,
And I just feel like crying all the time. 

Woke up this morning, the day was dawning, 
And I was feeling all sad and blue, 
I had nobody to tell my troubles to; 
I felt so worried, 
I didn't know what to do. 

But there's no use in grievin', because I'm leavin', 
I'm broken-hearted and Dixie-bound; 
I been mistreated, ain't got no time to lose. 
My train is leaving, 
And I got the down-home blues. 

Woke up this morning, the day was dawning, 
And I was feeling all sad and blue, 
Lord, I had nobody to tell my troubles to;
I felt so worried, 
I didn't know what to do.

But there's no use in grievin', because I'm leavin', 
I'm broken-hearted and Dixie-bound; 
Lord, I been mistreated, ain't got no time to lose.
My train is leaving,
And I got the down-home blues. 
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Lady Luck Blues

written by: Weber / Williams 

Bad luck has come to stay 
Trouble never end 
My man has gone away 
With a girl I thought was my friend 
I'm worried down with care 
Lordy, can't you hear my prayer 

Lady Luck, Lady Luck 
Won't you please smile down on me 
There's the time, friend of mine
I need your sympathy 
I've got a horseshoe on my door
I've knocked on wood till my hands are sore 
Since my man's done turned me loose 
I've got those Lady Luck blues, I mean 
I've got those Lady Luck blues 

Lady Luck, Lady Luck 
Won't you please smile down on me 
There's the time, friend of mine
I need your sympathy 
I've got his picture turned upside down 
I've sprinkled goofer dust all around 
Since my man is gone I'm all confused 
I've got those Lady Luck blues
Find my good man 
I've got those Lady Luck blues 
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