Born in Jackson, Tennessee, on May 1, 1924, Big Maybelle sang gospel as a child; by her teens, she had switched to rhythm and blues. She began her professional career with Dave Clark's Memphis Band in 1936, and also toured with the all-female International Sweethearts of Rhythm. She then joined Christine Chatman's Orchestra, and made her first recordings with Chatman in 1944, before recording with the Tiny Bradshaw's Orchestra from 1947 to 1950. Her debut solo recordings, recorded as Mabel Smith, were for King Records in 1947, where she was backed by Oran "Hot Lips" Page; however, she had little initial success.
In 1952, she was signed by Okeh Records, whose record producerFred Mendelsohn gave her the stage name 'Big Maybelle' because of her loud yet well-toned voice. Her first recording for Okeh, "Gabbin' Blues", was a number 3 hit on the BillboardR&B chart, and was followed up by both "Way Back Home" and "My Country Man" in 1953. In 1955, she recorded the song "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On", produced by up-and-coming producer Quincy Jones, a full two years before rockabilly then rock and roll singer Jerry Lee Lewis's version. Lewis credited Smith's version as being the inspiration to make his version much more louder, raunchy and raucous, with a driving beat and a spoken section with a come-on that was considered very risque for the time.
More hits followed throughout the 1950s, particularly after signing with Savoy Records later in 1955, including "Candy", one of her biggest sellers. During this time, she also appeared on stage at the ApolloTheater in New York City in 1957, and at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival she sang "All Night Long/I Ain't Mad at You", as seen in Bert Stern's film of the festival, Jazz on a Summer's Day, in which Mahalia Jackson and Dinah Washington also performed.
Career decline
After 1959, she recorded for a variety of labels, but the hits largely dried up. She continued to perform into the early 1960s. Her last hit single was in 1967, a cover of "96 Tears" by Question Mark & the Mysterians.
Death
Smith died of a diabetic coma on January 23, 1972, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was survived by her only child, Barbara Smith, and five grandchildren. Her final album, Last of Big Maybelle, was released posthumously in 1973.
