I’m back but this time I am not in the middle of nowhere I am at work, this will be my second blog post so here we go.

The great Payola Scandal of 1959. Lets start off with what payola is the dictionary definition of it is “a secret or private payment in return for a promotion of a product service, etc. through the abuse of one’s position, influence or facilities.” (Dictionary.com 2018) Doesn’t that just sound intriguing? who had their hands in the payola pot?

In the 1950’s payola became a well-known event to society, this is because of the rise of records over live music so the best way to promote a new record was to get it into the hands a well-known radio announcer or a disc jockey, but this generally came at a cost.  But what really showed the world of it happening was the 1958 game show scandal where a $64,000 question was rigged. (Neira 2004 )

Alan Freed and Dick Clark were famously known for allegedly having their hand in the pot of payola because of their influence on rock ‘n’ roll. Freed took a serious fall from this though

Alan Freed

(Image circa 1954-56 via BBC)

Who was Alan Freed and why is he so important? Allan Freed is known for coining the term Rock and Roll, he used the word to describe black R&B records that he was playing on the radio in the early 1950’s.  freed was also the planner for what is now looked at as the first ever rock ‘n’ roll concert, the Moondog Coronation Ball in Cleveland. (https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/alan-freed n.d.) Freed was a trailblazer in the world of rock n roll he quickly grew too putting together more rock and roll concerts and growing as a radio star that he moved from Cleveland to the state of NewYork and joined the Wins radio station.

After Alan Freed was brought down off his airplay throne the Congress amended their federal communications act to say that one must disclose whether or not airplay had been purchased. Payola became nothing but a misdemeanour with a fine of up $10,000 and one year in prison. Today that’s all it is is a slap on the wrist in a sense one must disclose if airplay has been paid for and must tell their station before they accept said payment and then still disclose that the airplay has been paid for.

Dick Clark

(http://www.pophistorydig.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/clark-at-podium-320.jpg)

Dick Clark was also famously known for supposedly having his hand in the payola pot. Clark, unlike many other disc jockeys, knew how to cover his rear end. He did this by investing minimal amounts into the different record labels, therefore, making him an owner of some of what was produced. So when he profited off of playing them on his radio shows it didn’t look as if he was taking any bribes he was just being paid as an investor. His lesson to everyone was to cover your rear end or it just might get bit.

All in all the payola scandal of 1959 did bring light to something that happened and that still happens in one way or another that someone uses someone else to get ahead and quite often through bribery. The fine now seems like a bit of a slap on the wrist and yes you can go to prison for a year but overall this doesn’t seem like all that harsh of a penalty. The scandal of 1959 also ruined a mans life but not  just some man the man who pretty well-invented rock and roll

References

2018. www.dictionary.com/browse/payola?s=t.

n.d. https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/alan-freed. Accessed July 18, 2018. https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/alan-freed.

Hutchinson, Lydia. 2015. Alan Freed and the Radio Payola Scandal. August 20. Accessed July 18, 2018. http://performingsongwriter.com/alan-freed-payola-scandal/.

Neira, Bob. 2004 . Payola Scandal Rocks 50″s Radio. www.modestoradiomusem.org/payola.html.

staff, history.com. 2009. Music The payola scandal heats up . Accessed July 18, 2018. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-payola-scandal-heats-up.

(http://www.pophistorydig.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/clark-at-podium-320.jpg)

(Image circa 1954-56 via BBC)

2017. Payola rules . December 8. Accessed July18 2018. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/fccs-payola-rules.

Hello, blogger world I am Meghan H. I am coming to you from the middle of nowhere Sask,

Mamie Smith (Robinson) was said to have been born in Ohio back in 1883. She was an American vaudeville singer, dancer, pianist, and actress.  as a vaudeville singer, she performed several types of music blues, jazz. Mamie left home at an early age to pursue her career in performing. She was singing in clubs in Harlem when she married William Smith. she stared in a handful of movies in her later career most notably the jailhouse blues.  Mamie made her mark on the music industry by being the first African American female singer to record vocal blues. Her record crazy blues that was recorded in 1920 Mamie’s record awakened record companies to the world of race records. Mamie’s record sold over 1 million records in less than a year solidifying the notion that race records are wanted as the main audience that purchased the record where people of race.

With the time of which Mamie was performing and growing up she would have experienced the challenges of being a black woman in the united states as people of race where a minority and same were women so going ahead Mamie already had 2 strikes against her, therefore, making the image of which that she couldn’t become a successful musician, but there was also the notion that African Americans wouldn’t and couldn’t buy records or record players. When her record released she changed that image.

Three examples of her music that I feel have best represented her contributions to music/ blues are Crazy Blues, That Thing Called Love and My Sportin’ Man I feel that each of these bring a different sound and a different level from spirit and attitude out in her.

Crazy Blues

Crazy blues seems like such an obvious, choice but for what reason? Yes, she was the first African American women to record blues vocals, and yes her arguably most famous recording. But with this, she became a role model for so many other female musicians like Bessie Smith. The lyrics of the song tell about feelings not so much of a story. the feelings come from abuse and attachment to a person and how much they mean to you that it can cause physical and mental pain to with them or without them, therefore calling the songs the blues as this is what the song is about. the song was also the first to show that people of race do listen to music and will invest in it to hear it and have to ability to play it.

That Thing Called Love

That Thing Called Love was released in 1921 and was written by J Dunn.  the instrumentation within the song is soft but a little contradicting to her voice and the lyrics. the song its self-seems to be more cheery something that I imagine being played in a Disney film when she’s singing about the boy that’s caught her heart unlike that of the crazy blues was emotional but in a sad and sombre way.

My Sportin’ Man

My Sportin Man was recorded in 1929. The major differences in this that I see from the previous two songs is how prominent her voice truly is in comparison to others the instrumentation isn’t overpowering her voice it is supporting it. you can see that she is growing as an artist. within this song, you can also hear how strong he voice is and that’s something that I didn’t feel could be heard before.

1. Ginell, R. S. (n.d.). Mamie Smith. Retrieved from All Music : https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mamie-smith-mn0000671455/biography
2. Songfacts, LLC. 2018. CRAZY BLUES by MAMIE SMITH.http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?lyrics=11184
3. Mamie Smith’s Jazz Hounds ‎– Old Time Blues / That Thing Called Love. (2018). Retrieved from Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/Mamie-Smiths-Jazz-Hounds-Old-Time-Blues-That-Thing-Called-Love/release/4307962

Paul Anka was a Canadian singer/songwriter who was born in Ottawa in 1941. Anka’s career as a singer started at a very young age with his firs hit “Diana” being a huge hit when he was only 16 years old. Anka knew how to give the people the music they wanted and became a star because of it.

Listening to Anka’s music I had heard the songs Diana and also Put Your Head on my Shoulder. I knew I wanted to discuss one of these two songs. Hence my look into Paul Anka’s – Put Your Head on My Shoulder.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvxagNIBVLU

Anka’s performance draws strongly on performers of his time such as Nat ‘King’ Cole and Frank Sinatra. One of the most recognizable similarities was the role that solo artists played. In this time era single artists were more prominent and there was a rising of members leaving bands to become solo artists (i.e. Cole leaving his trio). Additionally, like these singers, Anka delivers his song very personally. As listeners, we do not just hear the song, but we feel the song and we relate to it. We can hear that he is swooning a woman and wanting her to love him as much as he loves her. The song becomes about the words more than it does the melody that is played behind Anka’s voice. Because his voice becomes the most important part of the song he can incorporate stop time vocals on the some of his words. We hear it just before the words “Baby”, “show me” and “maybe”.

The musical influence continues as we begin to really listen to the song. It is a smooth ballad that has a strong jazz influence. We hear the influence in the four-beat rhythm that is known to jazz songs. The melody of the music just really softly swings. We hear the jazz rhythm and the syncopations in the drum in the background music. The melody that we can hear holds long lines and the drum through the bridge of the song has a strong backbeat. All things that were popularized by singers such as Nat Cole. Like Sinatra, Anka flows over the pulse of the music making the song very much his own. The texture becomes sultry and appealing to the teens of that era.

Many singers of this time have a distinctive sound and when you hear them you know who it is. As Anka is not played very much (or I am not listening to the right stations to hear him) I do not hear his music. But I do believe he puts out a different tone and he would be a singer that I would recognize in the future if I were to hear a different song made by him.

Paul Anka differs from other crooners of his era as he was not only a singer but a songwriter as well. He wrote many songs that became popular fast as he always knew what the music market was looking for. Some of the hits that Anka wrote include, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore for Buddy Holly and the theme for Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show…[and] Tom Jones’ bestselling record She’s a Lady, Donny Osmond’s cover of Puppy Love, Barbra Streisand’s Jubilation, and the English lyrics to the song My Way, which was made famous by Frank Sinatra and is one of the most memorable songs in modern music history” (CSHF, 2008). Anka had some hits from his own singing but had a lot of hits when it came to his songwriting. Here are some examples of the songs he wrote:

It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Buddy Holly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygBo9Fmq5l4

My Way – Frank Sinatra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljrFQyE1hAg

The two songs show just how much he could change his style of writing to fit the wants of a society that had changing tastes. With It Doesn’t Matter Anymore we get a little Rock but a little Rhythm and Blues. We hear a string section that has strong interludes and a quick tempo. Which was popular music at that time. But his writing becomes more melodic and about Frank Sinatra’s voice in the ballad My Way. “Anka has always been ahead of the curve, anticipating changes in pop culture and absorbing new musical styles with ease” (CSHF, 2008)

Anka continues even now to write and play music. He has a knack for knowing how to change a song to make it new. He released an album of cover songs in 2007 entitled Classic Songs: My Way. The album sold many copies as the songs were popular hits such as “Mr. Brightside” and “Time after Time. He refurbishes songs to give them a new look. Anka was interviewed by the CSHF and he said this”’When you are a musician or a songwriter you dissect everything you hear,’ Anka has said. ‘A good song is a good song. And they usually can be done several ways.’” This is why Anka’s writing is so powerful.

Not only does the above show how he is different then other crooners but I also think it shows his significance to popular music. He continued to write in the style that was wanted at that time and had an ear for popular music. He consistently can play and write music that wants to be heard and can reach billboard status. His music also does not just get stuck in North America but spreads across oceans to hit charts in other countries such as England. He is a role model to look up to for Canadians, he was a boy from Ottawa that started working in his father’s restaurant that had big dreams (Biography, 2017).

Anka now is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, holds the title Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters in France, has received the Order of Canada, and has a star on not only Hollywood’s walk of Fame, but also on Canada’s walk of Fame. Inspiring.

I did not know much about Anka before beginning this blog so much of what I found out was interesting. But I was surprised by not what I read but what I heard. I found it surprising that he could take so many songs from different genres and give them such a different feel. I always forget how much I love jazz music that really swings until I hear it. Anka has an album entitled Rock Swings and I know every song on it but one, but I had never heard any of Paul Anka’s cover songs. I found myself listening to them throughout writing my blog. I enjoyed them a lot (I do not think I will listen to Van Halen’s Jump over Anka’s version ever again). He is so intuitive in his writing of music. The song is still the song I remember but just in a swing jazz melody. It was very fun and intriguing.

Just a taste of his covers, I think every Canadian should hear this. I love it.

Paul Anka – Jump (Cover from Van Halen)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlMq8DImlTI

Lindsy

Works Cited

Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. 2008. Paul Anka. Retrieved From: http://www.cshf.ca/songwriter/paul-anka/

Gillet, Frank. 2013. Anka’s Away!. Retrieved from: http://go.galegroup.com.cyber.usask.ca/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA346138957&v=2.1&u=usaskmain&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w

Nygaard King, Betty. 2010. Paul Anka. Retrieved From: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paul-anka-emc/

Unknown. 2017. Paul Anka Biography. Retrieved from: https://www.biography.com/people/paul-anka-3424

Unknown. 2011. Paul Anka Biography. Retrieved from: http://paulanka.com/biography/

All Songs were found on Youtube.ca

The end of World War Two marked a turning point for the music industry in America. With the growing popularity of Rock and Roll, increased use of 45 rpm single and the increasing amount of music labels. Allowed for new opportunities in the industry. However, with the prosperity, also came one of the most massive music scandals. This scandal would later be known as Payola. Beginning in the early 1950s the sharp increase in record production meant more job opportunities for Disc Jockey’s (DJ’s) and more radio station being established. By 1957 there were roughly 5000 DJ’s across America.

With limit airtime availability and the number of songs that were produced it was hard to hear many of these songs on the radio. DJ’s realized that this limited airplay could be beneficial to them, soon DJ”s started charging flat fees to play certain songs for certain amounts of time. Other DJ’s, however, would also ask for percentages of sales from certain concerts or even lavish vacations. This practice did not last long, accusations began to spread about DJ’s taking payments, but nothing could ever really be proven.The act of payola continued until a contestant named Charles Van Doren on the TV show Twenty One confessed to having been given the musical answers ahead of time by the host.

After the public’s outrage of his confession, the government stepped in and launched an investigation regarding payola. In 1959 before the U.S. House Oversight Committee, 335 disc jockeys from around the country admitted to having received over $263,000 in “consulting fees”. Although it seemed as if the payola scandal finished, the case was beginning for two specific DJ’s.

The first DJ at the center of the payola scandal was Alan Freed, know by his nickname Moondog he was famous for playing less popular Rhythm and Blues (R&B) songs on the radio, these songs, however, would later be known as Rock and Roll. Freed began in the radio industry after being convinced by the store owner of a record shop he worked at that he would be a good fit for radio. 

Soon after his popularity grew, he was offered a DJ spot on one of the radio stations in New York, which its success helped launch a career for him in television. When the government began their investigation Freed was one of the likely targets. Although Freed claimed to never took payments from any record companies he would not sign any documents from his radio station saying this was true. He eventually was dropped by the radio station, and after odd radio jobs in Los Angeles and Miami, he found himself back in New York facing multiple counts of bribery. He was found guilty and was facing many legal bills along with income tax evasion eventually died at the age of 46.

The second DJ found at the center of this controversy was Dick Clark. Much like Alan Freed, Clark was a popular radio host, known for his show American Bandstand with which he was able to help advance the careers of numerous artists. Eventually, in 1960 just like Freed, Clark found himself at the center of the Payola scandals. Clark had investments in some record companies, song publishing groups and artist management groups. He told Congress that he was unaware of disproportionate airtime for a specific artist, he eventually sold his shares of these companies.

Clark emerged from these trial practically unscathed and continued his career in the industry. After Freed went down in 1960, Congress amended the Federal Communications Act to outlaw “under-the-table payments and required broadcasters to disclose if airplay for a song is purchased.” Payola became a misdemeanor, with a penalty of up to $10,000 in fines and one year in prison.

After the government investigation and law changes, it seemed as if this practice would no longer occur and that all songs would be played equally on the radio. The sad truth of this that the practice of payola continues to this day. George Howard, former president of Rykodisc, wrote an article discussing how large labels to this day again practice the act of payola. He states that music labels will hire independent promoters that receive million dollar payments to align themselves with radio stations by promising promotional payments in the six-figure range. ALong with the increase of music streaming websites such as Spotify and Apple music have record labels paying large amounts of money to have their songs featured on these sites.

Although this practice is still used today it can never completely disappear people will always find away to pay to have their songs promoted or heard by more people. Personally, if an artist or record label is willing to pay the increasing amounts of money to have their songs heard they should be allowed to. Although this may be unfair to some smaller artists it is a business and no matter what industry you are in there will always be larger and smaller people.

References

Doyle, J. (2014, February 28). “Moondog Alan Freed”. Retrieved July 09, 2018, from http://www.pophistorydig.com/topics/tag/alan-freed-payola/

Hutchinson, L. (2015, August 20). Alan Freed and the Radio Payola Scandal. Retrieved July 08, 2018, from http://performingsongwriter.com/alan-freed-payola-scandal/

Kelly, K. (2016, February 14). A Brief History of American Payola. Retrieved July 08, 2018, from https://noisey.vice.com/da/article/64y8y9/a-brief-history-of-american-payola

Messitte, N. (2014, November 30). How Payola Laws Keep Independent Artists Off Mainstream Radio. Retrieved July 10, 2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmessitte/2014/11/30/how-payola-laws-keep-independent-artists-off-mainstream-radio/#340fcdaa519f

Sherwin, A. (2015, August 20). Payola: One of music’s oldest arrangements back with a bang on streaming playlists. Retrieved July 12, 2018, from https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/payola-one-of-musics-oldest-arrangements-back-with-a-bang-on-streaming-playlists-10464513.html

T. (2017, April 27). Dick Clark Biography. Retrieved July 10, 2018, from https://www.biography.com/people/dick-clark-9249296

Photo References

Dick Clark. (n.d.). Retrieved July 15, 2018, from https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0163863/

History of Boston Rock and Roll. (n.d.). Retrieved July 13, 2018, from http://motherlode.tv/bostonrock/chapter3.html

Levine, D. S. (2016, October 20). Charles Van Doren: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Retrieved July 13, 2018, from https://heavy.com/news/2016/10/who-is-charles-van-doren-twenty-one-donald-trump-rigged-debate-hillary-clinton-rush-limbaugh-still-alive-quiz-show/

Live Concert Review

#M3Q4

I recently attended a concert performed by the famous American country music singer songwriter Luke Bryan at the Country Thunder music festival. Bryan got his start in 2007 with his debut album “I’ll Stay Me”. Bryan has accomplished a lot since his start in 2007; he has released 6 albums, 4 compilation albums, 25 singles and most importantly 19 number one singles. Bryan has many musical talents including singing, guitar, piano and song writing. Bryan’s personal life has involved many tragedies. Bryan lost his older brother at the age of 19 in a tragic car accident. Years later his sister unexpectedly passed away leaving her three children and husband behind. Tragedy struck once again seven years later when her husband passed unexpectedly as well. Bryan and his wife took the three children in as their own and continue to raise them along with their own two children. Bryan appears to be a very genuine and kind person which helps him to thrive in the industry.

Unlike other country music artists Bryan incorporates a variety of genres into his music. Influences come from Rap, R&B, electronic, pop and rock, this sets Bryan apart and makes his music much more diverse and not as traditional. Bryan’s music goes from sappy love songs to partying in a cornfield all while maintaining the integrity of the country music genre. Bryan and his band use instruments like banjo, guitar, drums, bass, sometimes a piano or fiddle. One of his many number one singles “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” is still very popular following its release in 2011. The following verse embodies Bryan’s style of country:

“Sombody’s sweet little farmer’s child
With a gattle in her Bud to get a little wild
Pony-tail and a pretty smile
Rope me in from a country mile
So come on over here and get in my arms
Spin me around this big ole barn
Tangle me up like grandma’s yarn
Yeah, yeah, yeah”

The word choice and rhyming flows very smoothly and tends to “pump up” the crowd. Bryan uses this style to get the crowd singing and engaged with the upbeat rhythm, beat and lyrics. This particular song is a country rock song, veering away from traditional country music that artists like George Strait may sing. The song below by Strait shows the classic country we are used to, the pure country with no other genres influencing.

The concert was performed at Country Thunder in Craven, Sk on July 15^th, 2018. The venue was a wide-open space with the stage front and centre. Even with the large crowd present Bryan worked the crowd impressively taking the crowd through a wide variety of emotions. Craven is in rural Saskatchewan and Bryan’s songs like “Kick the Dust Up” and “Huntin’, Fishin’ & Lovin’ Everyday” are relatable to many. Bryan grew up in a small town in Georgia and based his songs on a lot of his experiences growing up which are very similar to many of the concert attendees.

Luke engaged the crowd in a meaningful way throughout the entire concert. His song “Drink a Beer” is dedicated to his brother whom he lost in a car accident, emotions were running high not only on the stage but also in the crowd. Luke hit home with the audience when he appeared on stage wearing a Humboldt Broncos T-shirt as a tribute to everyone affected. Luke stole the crowds heart with not only his music but his character and strong stage presence. The ability to form emotional relationships with the audience adds an effect to the entire experience for everyone. I enjoyed this concert not only because I love country music but because Luke Bryan is an amazing performer and has a certain “presence” you may say.

Proof of attendance:

Citations:

Anon, (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/06/magazine/what-makes-luke-bryan-country.htm [Accessed 19 Jul. 2018].

Bryan, L. (2018). Luke Bryan. [online] Biography. Available at: https://www.biography.com/people/luke-bryan [Accessed 19 Jul. 2018].

Thefamouspeople.com. (2018). Who is Luke Bryan? Everything You Need to Know. [online] Available at: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/luke-bryan-14631.php [Accessed 19 Jul. 2018].

Mamie Smith born Mamie Robinson was not only known for her role in pioneering blues music as a woman she dabbled in other entertainment as well, such as performing on vaudeville shows as a singer, dancer, pianist, and she was an actress as well appearing in a few films intermittently starting in 1929 with “Jailhouse blues” to her last film in 1943 called “Because I love you.” However, not much is known about Mamie Smith’s life beyond her entertainment career. It is believed that she was born on this date in 1883 in Cincinnati, OH.^[1] Much of her early years are an enigma to many, which has left people who have been influenced by her, completely mystified by the lack of knowledge of her previous life before her entertainment career. “Though technically not a blues performer, Mamie Smith notched her place in American music as the first Black female singer to record a vocal blues”. ^[1]  With that being said she transformed what the public originally thought of the status quo for someone who sang the blues. Being the first female to record as a blues singer she paved the way for many future ethnic minorities especially females that did not think it was possible previously.  “Crazy Blues” (recorded August 10, 1920), which sold a million copies in its first six months and made record labels aware of the huge potential market for “race records.” This paved the way for Bessie Smith (no relation) and other blues and jazz performers”. ^[1]  Mamie Smith passed away in 1946 in Harlem nothing has been documented about how she passed but this seems to be the theme for this blues icon. Which leaves her personal life to the imagination of the audience, her music speaks for her it may even give insight into her personal life, that creates a portrait for the population of listeners that often wondered about the background of this legend of blues.

Crazy Blues

“Crazy Blues” is possibly Mamie Smith’s most famous song, with “Her high, vibrato-laden style” ^[3] Mamie Smith delivers power to each of her songs. The song ‘Crazy Blues’ itself follows the structure of similar blues songs and the premise we all know in the lyrics which typically involves an event that has left the artist with the “blues.” In this particular song Mamie Smith sings about the man she loves, In the first verse of the song she makes it apparent that this man does not treat her right but as the song progresses it takes on a much deeper meaning. She sings rendition of about the times he had left and how her love for him made her blind. The end of the song caps off the theme of the song “her man is always leaving her” even in the time of his passing.

‘Now the doctor’s gonna do all that he can
But what you’re gonna need is an undertaker man
I ain’t had nothin’ but bad news
Now I got the crazy blues’ ^[4]

That Thing Called Love

Mamie Smith dubbed the ‘The Queen of the Blues’ ^[2] for good reason this songs tempo takes on a different tone when comparing it to ‘Crazy Blues’ personally I think this song shows the diversity and versatility in Mamie Smith’s voice unlike like her previous song that played on the emotional premise that the song took on, where the vocals seemed more sombre then that of ‘That Thing Called Love.’ What intrigues me is the theme of the song once again encapsulates the definition of the blues, reading through some YouTube comments they liken her to a jazz artist which I’m in total disagreement with I think Mamie Smith laid the foundation down for future female blues singers to come with her passionate vocals and her cadence that delivers an impact only the most adept blues singers can deliver to their audience.

Lord, I Love That Man

This is my personal favorite, I find it interesting how she starts with the chorus and then follows up with a verse which seems a little unorthodox when compared to a more popular structure for a song. This song recorded live in 1939 really puts Mamie Smith’s voice on display showing the maturity in her voice when comparing it to the previous songs that were recorded early in her career. I feel in this song we really get a taste of the power Mamie Smith has when she belts the lyrics as if this is her benediction and decree about love, men, and the emotion that goes along with relationships. She truly puts on display the meaning of the blues when she performs not to mention her stage presence that commands the attention of the audience it would be disingenuous to not have Mamie Smith named amongst the greatest blues artists of the twentieth century.

Bibliography

1. 2018. Cincinnati’s own, Mamie Smith. https://aaregistry.org/story/cincinnatis-own-mamie-smith/
2. 2018. Mamie Smith. July 10. https://www.allaboutbluesmusic.com/mamie-smith/
3. Nager, Larry. 2001. Mamie Smith: Early blues and jazz legend broke color barriers. January 4. http://enquirer.com/editions/2001/01/04/tem_mamie_smith_early.html
4. Songfacts, LLC. 2018. CRAZY BLUES by MAMIE SMITH. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?lyrics=11184