Carrie Smith (born Carrie Louise Smith; August 25, 1941 – May 20, 2012)
was an American blues and jazz singer.
Smith was a member of a church choir that performed at the 1957 Newport
Jazz Festival. She first won notice singing with Big Tiny Little in the
early 1970s, but became internationally known in 1974 when she played
Bessie Smith (to whom she is of no relation) in Dick Hyman's Satchmo
Remembered at Carnegie Hall.
Smith then launched a solo career, performing with the New York Jazz
Repertory Orchestra, Tyree Glenn (1973), Yank Lawson (1987), Bross
Townsend, and the World's Greatest Jazz Band in addition to numerous
solo albums.
She starred in the Broadway musical Black and Blues from 1989 to 1991. She is not well known in the United States but has a cult following in Europe.
She starred in the Broadway musical Black and Blues from 1989 to 1991. She is not well known in the United States but has a cult following in Europe.