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.
