Big Maybelle

[Admin]

Mabel Louise Smith, known professionally as Big Maybelle, was an American R&B singer. Her 1956 hit single "Candy" received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. wikipedia.org

Born: May 1, 1924, Jackson, Tennessee, USA
Died: January 23, 1972, Cleveland, Ohio, USA



Big Maybelle on WDIA radio in Memphis. (http://historic-memphis.com/memphis-historic/broadcasting/radio-tv.html#)

[blueescorpio2000]

Big Maybelle a pianist?= More inaccurate discographical/biographical B.S.

[stefanwirz]

Jul 4, 2015 21:16:43 GMT blueescorpio2000 said:

Big Maybelle a pianist?= More inaccurate discographical/biographical B.S.

... why not simply edit the erroneous Wikipedia entry - as I just did?! 
"Es gibt nichts Gutes - ausser man tut es." (Erich Kästner)
And btw: It's my pleasure to find you here, blueescorpio - long time no hear!


Big Maybelle article at Wikipedia

[alanbalfour]

Big Maybelle. The following reminds me of something of no consequence. 

In my pocket diary I have noted that on 1st September 1967 John Peel (UK dj) had Big Maybelle and her Senate guest on his weekly BBC radio show, Top Gear. From memory I found the session "a non event" but did list four of the songs performed: 

Baby Please Don't Go
Everyday I Have The Blues
Mean To Me 
Mellow Yellow

I think the Senate may have performed a set of their own. 

[blueescorpio2000]

Jul 5, 2015 5:22:33 GMT stefanwirz said:

Jul 4, 2015 21:16:43 GMT blueescorpio2000 said:

Big Maybelle a pianist?= More inaccurate discographical/biographical B.S.

... why not simply edit the erroneous Wikipedia entry - as I just did?! 
"Es gibt nichts Gutes - ausser man tut es." (Erich Kästner)
And btw: It's my pleasure to find you here, blueescorpio - long time no hear!


Big Maybelle article at Wikipedia

Hi Stefan.Nice to meet you again brother.

[blueescorpio2000]

Jul 5, 2015 6:24:18 GMT alanbalfour said:

Big Maybelle. The following reminds me of something of no consequence. 

In my pocket diary I have noted that on 1st September 1967 John Peel (UK dj) had Big Maybelle and her Senate guest on his weekly BBC radio show, Top Gear. From memory I found the session "a non event" but did list four of the songs performed: 

Baby Please Don't Go
Everyday I Have The Blues
Mean To Me 
Mellow Yellow

I think the Senate may have performed a set of their own. 

Hi Alan,

I found a recording of one Maybelle song from that John Peel Session.I agree ,nothing earth shaking.

BBC Radio1 Top Gear mit John Peel und Pete Drummond vom 01.10.1967 (sic)

tinyurl.com/pt5jbmz

Big Maybelle And The Senate - 'Every Day I Got The Blues' (sic) starts at the 32:14 mark

[Admin]

Great Marc. This is why the forum exists - to correct misconceptions and mis-information.

Here is a good article attibuted to J. C. Marion on Big Maybelle. Note, her biography refers to other pianists...

...In the early forties Mabel was part of pianist Christine Chatman's orchestra (a decade later Chatman was a session pianist on some of Hank Ballard & The Midnighters sides for King) and made her first recording with that group in 1944 for Decca Records...

home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/Maybelle.html

[blueescorpio2000]

Jul 5, 2015 5:22:33 GMT stefanwirz said:

Jul 4, 2015 21:16:43 GMT blueescorpio2000 said:

Big Maybelle a pianist?= More inaccurate discographical/biographical B.S.

... why not simply edit the erroneous Wikipedia entry - as I just did?! 
"Es gibt nichts Gutes - ausser man tut es." (Erich Kästner)
And btw: It's my pleasure to find you here, blueescorpio - long time no hear!


Big Maybelle article at Wikipedia

Stefan would you please be so kind to edit the misinformation in the 'Childhood and musical background' section of the Big Maybelle article.
I don't want to register at friggin' Wikipedia.I'd be editing erronneous B.S. 24/24 and 7/7.TIA

[stefanwirz]

Ooops, how could I ignore the second "pianist" --- Done!

[blueescorpio2000]

Jul 5, 2015 12:57:29 GMT Admin said:

...In the early forties Mabel was part of pianist Christine Chatman's orchestra (a decade later Chatman was a session pianist on some of Hank Ballard & The Midnighters sides for King) and made her first recording with that group in 1944 for Decca Records...

home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/Maybelle.html

For the sake of good order: the above mentioned Christine Chatman was married to drummer Peppy Prince.She's not Memphis Slim's spouse.(i.e. more bloody misinformation floating about on the WWW)

Whereas Christine Freys - Chatman,a French,non/black woman,and daughter of a Parisian night club owner was Memhis Slim's better halve.

BTW Great article ''The Boogie Woogie Girl' - 'The Christine Chatman Story' by Dan Kochakian, incl. discography and vintage pictures in Blues & Rhythm # 224 - November 2007

I had to say it!

[blueescorpio2000]

Jul 9, 2015 18:30:55 GMT blueescorpio2000 said:

Jul 5, 2015 12:57:29 GMT Admin said:

home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/Maybelle.html

For the sake of good order: the above mentioned Christine Chatman was married to drummer Peppy Prince.She's not Memphis Slim's spouse.(i.e. more bloody misinformation floating about on the WWW)

Whereas Christine Freys - Chatman,a French,non/black woman,and daughter of a Parisian night club owner was Memhis Slim's better halve.

BTW Great article ''The Boogie Woogie Girl' - 'The Christine Chatman Story' by Dan Kochakian, incl. discography and vintage pictures in Blues & Rhythm # 224 - November 2007

I had to say it!

I came across this webpage and contacted the author.

Rich Coleman wrote:

Marc, thanks for contacting me I've been the family historian with my aunts music and career, and it was amazing! When I was on tour state side I'd spend time with her in her later years and I wished I had taped the long nights and stories of all of the artist's she performed w/ and her travels. She had the most amazing photos with Lena Horn, Frank Sinatra, Big Mable, Peppy, and so many more. We lost all of the photos and memories when their home in Jackson TN was hit by a tornado. 


I have 19 CD's from around the world that she is featured on and I also have the same article you referenced. There were a number of rumors that eventually turned up as fact in her bio's. She was not married to Memphis Slim. She did talk about Peppy often as one of her "special" friends. Aunt Chris recorded / played with Memphis Slim but they were not related or married many though that since they shared the same last name.



My favorite of the compilation CD's is from King Records, she is singing three songs on the project and playing several instruments. Also, the tracks with Hank Ballard and the original version of "The Twist", Chubby Checkers producers made no changes, it was released within a short time of the original and "payola" got his version played on the air from all that I've read.



As a member of the Grammy 's I've nominated her for a "Life Time Achievement" award, several times (it's like the hall of fame), you have to keep submitting" . In my write up I covered her career. I did get to play drums with her twice when she played with her choir in Jackson TN in the mid 70's. I'll always cherish that memory. I'm working on acquiring her catalogue and record a number of her songs with family members. My daughter is currently on Broadway and sings and plays multiple instruments, in a recent production of "Ain't Mis Be-haven" it was a flash back seeing my aunt on stage as she played violin, Upright bass, keys, and drums. She recently was in "Dream Girls" as Deena and that story is what my Aunt Chris and her bands when through ,,,, Aunt Chris played 13 instruments w/ her bands and she played by "ear" .



Thanks for contacting me, take care.