Clara Smith

Because forward is where she goes.

She joins a traveling troupe on the Black vaudeville circuit, the Dixie Steppers, and the job comes to her through a blues singer named Clara Smith.

Clara Smith becomes her mentor and, in the language of that world, her lady lover.

That was a real term.

The women of the circuit shared boarding house rooms to save money, and some of them shared more than rooms.

In the nineteen twenties and thirties, there was no reason to, and many reasons not to.

But her adopted son, Jean-Claude Baker, who knew her from the time he was fourteen and spent eighteen years writing her biography after she died, named six women she loved.

Clara Smith from the circuit.

I am your host P.W. Fenton.

On this day in 1923, Bessie Smith and Clara Smith, who was no relation, recorded Far Away Blues as a duet for Columbia Records.

It sounds, though, like they were kind of tired.

I say!

I am your host, P.W. Fenton.

On this day in 1923, Clara Smith recorded Kansas City Blues and Uncle Sam Blues in New York City for Columbia Records.

Uncle Sammy thought that he was so doggone cute Uncle Sammy thought that he was so doggone cute

on this day in 1948 sunny thompson's late freight was the number one record in the nation Hey, don't forget to stop by at bluesland.net where I have links to all the music you hear on this show.

I am your host, P.W. Fenton.

On this day in 1925, Clara Smith recorded I'm Tired of Being Good in New York City for Columbia Records.

had a man.

He didn't treat her right.

September 14, 1889 marks the birth of Tom Delaney, one of the most influential early blues and jazz songwriters.

His compositions, including Jasmine Blues and The Down Home Blues, were recorded by legends such as Ethel Waters, Count Basie, Clara Smith, and Dinah Washington.

Although Delaney made only a handful of recordings himself, his remarkable songwriting shaped blues and jazz for generations, securing his place among the music's pioneering composers.

Born on September 15, 1921, Snooki Pryor was a pioneering Chicago blues harmonica player whose innovations transformed the sound of post-war blues.