(Mabel Louise Smith)
DISCOGRAPHY 1954-2024 (33CD)
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Jackson, Tennessee, United States, Big Maybelle sang gospel as a
child and by her teens had switched to rhythm and blues. She began her
professional career with Dave Clark's Memphis Band in 1936, and also
toured with the all female International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
She then joined Christine Chatman's Orchestra as pianist, and made her first recordings with Chatman in 1944, and with the Tiny Bradshaw's Orchestra from 1947 to 1950.
She then joined Christine Chatman's Orchestra as pianist, and made her first recordings with Chatman in 1944, and with the Tiny Bradshaw's Orchestra from 1947 to 1950.
Her debut solo recordings, as Mabel Smith, came for King Records in 1947,
backed by Oran "Hot Lips" Page, but she had little initial success.
However, in 1952 she was signed by Okeh Records, whose record producer
Fred Mendelsohn gave her the stage name Big Maybelle. Her first recording
for Okeh, "Gabbin' Blues", was a number 3 hit on the Billboard R'n'B
chart, and was followed up by both "Way Back Home" and "My Country Man" in
1953.
In 1955 she recorded "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On", produced by Quincy
Jones, two years before Jerry Lee Lewis's version. More hits followed
throughout the 1950s, mainly for Savoy Records, including "Candy" (1956),
one of her biggest sellers.
She made the stage of the Apollo Theater in New York City; the 1958
Newport Jazz Festival; and she appeared in Jazz on a Summer's Day (1960),
filmed at the Newport Jazz Festival, along with Mahalia Jackson and Dinah
Washington. After 1959 she recorded for a variety of labels but the hits
largely dried up. She continued to perform in person into the early 1960s,
when drug addiction and health problems took their toll on her.
Her last hit single was in 1967 with a cover of "96 Tears" by Question Mark and the Mysterians. Big Maybelle died in a diabetic coma in 1972, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was survived by her only child Barbara Smith and a host of grand children. Her final album, Last of Big Maybelle, was released posthumously in 1973.
Her last hit single was in 1967 with a cover of "96 Tears" by Question Mark and the Mysterians. Big Maybelle died in a diabetic coma in 1972, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was survived by her only child Barbara Smith and a host of grand children. Her final album, Last of Big Maybelle, was released posthumously in 1973.
The album The Okeh Sessions on the Epic label, won the 1983 W.C. Handy
Award, for "Vintage or Reissue Album of the Year (U.S.)."
In 2011, she was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.
NEW!
1954-I've Got a Feelin' @FLAC24-48
2012-Classic R&B Women Big Maybelle & Baby Washington @FLAC
2016-The Very Best Of (2CD) @320
2024-Sweet On Candy-Best Of (1953-61) (LP) @FLAC
ESSENTIAL CLASSICS
Vol. 433-Big Maybelle-Essential Classics @FLAC