Moses "Whispering" Smith

Moses "Whispering" Smith
Birth name Moses Smith
Born (1932-01-25)January 25, 1932
Union Church, Mississippi, United States
Died April 28, 1984(1984-04-28) (aged 52)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Genres Swamp blues
Louisiana blues[1]
Occupation(s) Harmonicist, singer, songwriter
Instruments Harmonica, vocals
Labels Excello

Moses "Whispering" Smith (January 25, 1932 – April 28, 1984)[2] was an American blues harmonicist and singer.[2] He recorded tracks including "A Thousand Miles from Nowhere" and "Texas Flood", and worked with both Lightnin' Slim and Silas Hogan. He was inducted into the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame.[2]

Biography

Smith was born in Union Church, Mississippi.[2]

In the 1960s, Smith's harmonica playing accompanied recordings by swamp blues notables Lightnin' Slim and Silas Hogan,[3] before he was able to record some tracks of his own making. At this time he worked alongside the Crowley, Louisiana based record producer, J. D. "Jay" Miller, and his output was released by Excello Records. His singles included "Mean Woman Blues", "I Tried So Hard", and "Don't Leave Me", plus the instrumental tracks "Live Jive" and "Hound Dog Twist".[1]

Although he was a powerful singer, and a straight but unsophisicated harmonica player,[3] his potential was diminished by his appearance towards the end of the swamp blues period. He recorded his final album for Excello, Over Easy, in 1971.[4]

Whispering Smith died in April 1984 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 52.[2]

Discography

Singles

Year Title Label
1963 "Mean Woman Blues" Excello Records

[4]

Albums

Year Title Label
1971 Over Easy Blue Horizon

[5]

Compilation albums

Year Title Label Song by Smith
1970 Louisiana Blues Arhoolie Records "On the Dark Road Crying"
1989 Louisiana Swamp Blues Flyright Records "Baby Left Me This Morning"

[6][7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Richie Unterberger, "Louisiana Blues", in V. Bogdanov, C. Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, eds, All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues (Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Backbeat Books, 3rd edn., 2003), ISBN 0-87930-736-6
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Doc Rock. "The 1980s". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  3. 1 2 Herzhaft, Gérard (1997). Encyclopedia of the Blues (2nd ed.). Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. p. 76. ISBN 1-55728-452-0.
  4. 1 2 "Whispering Smith discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Over Easy - Whispering Smith | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  6. ↑ "Arhoolie Records discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  7. ↑ "Flyright Records discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
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