Entertainment

Meet Mamie Smith, the first African American singer who gained instant fame but died broke

Published

2 years ago

September 23, 2024

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Mamie-Smith.jpg&description=Meet Mamie Smith, the first African American singer who gained instant fame but died broke', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Mamie-Smith.jpg&description=Meet Mamie Smith, the first African American singer who gained instant fame but died broke', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

ADVERTISEMENT

Mamie Smith, on record as the first Black female singer, released a record titled “Crazy Blues” in 1920, making her the first to record and release a Blues song. This kicked down a previously locked door for Black female artists and their fans that kept them out of mainstream music.

The record became a smash hit in Black communities across the country, revolutionizing the blues genre and opening the doors of popular music to Black female artists.

More importantly, the success of “Crazy Blues” proved to the music industry that Black women could make hit records, and that there was a thriving market for Black, popular music.

Born in Cincinnati in 1891, she began her career in show business as a dancer with the Four Dancing Mitchells. By 1910, Smith was touring the Midwest and East Coast with the Smart Set Company, a Black minstrel troupe. She married singer William “Smitty” Smith in 1912. The couple moved to New York, where she began working as a cabaret dancer, pianist, and singer. Her first major break came in 1918 when she appeared in Perry Bradford’s musical “Made in Harlem.”

Bradford had long dreamed of having Black singers record blues tunes for a mass market, but it was a tough sell for recording studios at the time. Eventually, Otto Heinemann, the president of fledgling OKeh Records, decided to take Bradford up on his idea, but Frederick Hager, the company’s recording manager, wanted Sophie Tucker, a white singer, to record the songs. Because Tucker signed with another label, Bradford convinced Hager to take a chance on Smith.

According to music critic Daphne Brooks, Smith, her fans, and the rallying behind the blues artists that followed her breakout success, helped pave the way for the fan armies that continue to surround Black women artists more than a century later, such as Beyonce’s “BeyHive” or Nicki Minaj’s “Barbz.”

“Mamie Smith almost singlehandedly jump-started the popularity of blues music in American culture,” says music journalist and author, Jas Obrecht, who profiled Smith for Living Blues magazine in 2019. “I would argue everybody who loves music and performs blues music, whether they know it or not, they owe a debt of appreciation to Mamie Smith.”

Smith’s popularity shot through the roof following “Crazy Blues,” which netted her about $100,000 in royalties, a fortune at the time. Her stage appearances, characterized by her signature glam style of shimmering gowns, plumes and diamond tiaras, raked in up to $1,500 a week. She later appeared in films, like the 1929 theatrical short “Jail House Blues” and 1939’s “Paradise in Harlem. But the success didn’t last, reports say.

By the time of her death in 1946, Smith was reportedly penniless, without even a tombstone to mark her grave in Staten Island, New York. But what the singer lacked in material wealth, she made up for in cultural influence, setting the precedent for Black female artists to become pop music divas.

According to Brooks, Smith’s legacy has ironically been overshadowed by the Black female recording artists who came after her, even though it was Smith who kicked off the classic blues women’s era of the 1920s.

Source: face2faceafrica.com

Entertainment

Davido Gives Reasons Why He Honoured Abducted Oyo Sch Victims at FIFA World Cup

Published

15 hours ago

July 6, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

ADVERTISEMENT

Davido has explained the reason behind his emotional tribute during his performance at the FIFA World Cup, saying he could not remain silent while children and teachers are still missing in Nigeria.

Speaking on the gesture, the Afrobeats star said many people avoid discussing the country’s security challenges because they want to protect Nigeria’s image, but insisted that there is no image to protect when innocent children are being abducted.

> “A lot of people don’t really want to talk about what is going on in our country. Simply because they want to protect the image. But there’s no image to protect if little kids are being kidnapped,” Davido said.

The singer noted that although he was honoured to perform at the World Cup, he believed it was important to use the global stage to draw attention to the plight of the abducted pupils and teachers from Oyo State.

According to him, everyone has a unique way of making an impact, and his platform is music and live performances.

> “My power is in music and performances. These students and teachers have been missing and still haven’t been found. So yeah, I used my platform to project what’s really going on,” he added.

Entertainment

Video of Family of Bouncer Reportedly Killed in Sam Larry Crash Sparks Emotional Reactions Online

Published

20 hours ago

July 6, 2026

Admin

ADVERTISEMENT

A video said to show the wife, mother and children of a bouncer who reportedly died in the road accident involving music promoter Sam Larry has surfaced on social media, drawing emotional reactions from Nigerians.

The footage, which has been widely circulated online, shows family members believed to be mourning the deceased, whose death has not yet been officially confirmed by relevant authorities.

The accident, which reportedly occurred on Saturday, has continued to generate widespread attention following reports that the bouncer, who was said to have been travelling with Sam Larry at the time of the crash, lost his life.

Although details surrounding the incident remain unclear, the emergence of the video has intensified conversations on social media, with many users expressing sympathy for the bereaved family and offering prayers for those affected.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Sam Larry nor law enforcement authorities have publicly released a detailed statement confirming the identity of the deceased or providing a comprehensive account of the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Click the here to watch video.

Entertainment

Toke Makinwa advocates dating within one’s income level

Published

2 days ago

July 5, 2026

Admin

ADVERTISEMENT

Nollywood actress and media personality Toke Makinwa has shared her views on the role of financial compatibility in relationships and marriage.

Speaking on a recent episode of the MENtality podcast hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Makinwa said she believes people should date within their income bracket, arguing that significant financial differences can create challenges in relationships.

She also claimed that many men pursue relationships with women whose lifestyles exceed their financial capacity, only to later complain that women are materialistic.

She said, “I am a big believer of date within your age and within your class. That way there will not be stories that touch.

“You will have a good girl at home, a girl who will even make dinner with her own money when you don’t have. Yet, some men will still want to cheat on her with a woman they can’t afford.

“Heaven forbid you end up with a guy who hasn’t blown. The day he blows that is when you will know his true personality.

“And that scares women. Money doesn’t change people, it just reveal who the person is. So many men are treating women who sacrificed everything for them badly.”