Mamie Smith (1883)

Smith was an African-American vaudeville singer, dancer, and actress, but her most enduring legacy is a single she recorded in 1920 for Okeh Records. The first recording of vocal blues by an African-American artist, “Crazy Blues” quickly—and somewhat unexpectedly—became a bestseller. Its success opened record executives’ eyes to a previously neglected market—African-American buyers—and ushered in the era of the “race record.” Smith’s “Crazy Blues” was accorded what honor in 2005? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *