About

I am a writer and reviewer for Blues Revue Magazine, Blues Music, and several other publications.  I have started this INDIEGOGO campaign to erect a headstone for African American blues singer MAMIE SMITH (1883-1946), who recorded "Crazy Blues," the first blues EVER on record by an African American female, in August, 1920. It was also the first time an African American blues artist was accompanied by an all-African American jazz band -- Mamie's Jazz Hounds. The "Hounds" included some of the best musicians -- black or white -- from the 1920s.  

Mamie lies buried in an unmarked grave in Frederick Douglass Memorial Park on Staten Island, in NYC, since her death in 1946. Thanks to your generosity in our previous two campaigns we raised enough money to order an elegant granite headstone etched with her photograph and fitting epitaph which we plan to unveil at a ceremony this Sept. 13 – three days before the 68th anniversary of her death.