Big Maybelle
Mabel Louise Smith, better known as “Big Maybelle,” was born in Jackson, Tennessee in 1924. She began singing gospel music in her youth, and started out her touring career with The Sweethearts of Rhythm, an all-female swing group that toured throughout the South in the late 1930’s.
After touring with the Tiny Bradshaw Band, she recorded several tracks with King Records in 1947. “Don't Try to Fool Me” showed off her voice’s deep and expressive quality, while “Sad and Disappointed Jill” gave a taste of the Rock n’ Roll genre brewing at labels such as King at the time.
While Big Maybelle’s recordings with King never achieved success on the national charts, she recorded several charting tracks later in her career throughout the 50’s and 60’s. Her song “Gabbin’ Blues,” featuring a back-and-forth between the singer and another woman regarding her status as a southern migrant during the Great Migration, reached #3 on the R&B charts. By the end of her career, Big Maybelle was recording veritable Rock n’ Roll tunes such as “Tell Me Who,” bridging the gap from Gospel to R&B to Rock n’ Roll.
Works Cited:
Dahl, Bill. "Big Maybelle." AllMusic.com
Marion, JC. "The Story of Big Maybelle" (2000)
