|
05 Apr 00 - 09:57 AM (#206977) Subject: OBIT: Passing: Mary Smith McClain From: harpgirl Mary Smith McClain (Diamond Tooth Mary)died a few days ago..At 101 she is said to have been the oldest living blues performer...I remember her last performance at the Florida Folk Festival. She played through the rain and had her "tip jar" on the main stage, much to the consternation of festival officials! I'll try to paste her preliminary obituary, written by Ken Crawford, FFF organizer....or maybe Paul G. or Abby Sale might do so...harpgirl |
|
21 Mar 04 - 10:19 AM (#1142263) Subject: RE: OBIT: Passing of Mary Smith McClain From: GUEST,jj McClain, who claimed to be Bessie Smith's half sister, sang in the "classic blues" style of the 1920's, glittering with spangles and beads, moving her hips aggressively, and adorning her teeth with Juicy Fruit foil. Before she retired in Bradenton, her career spanned 32 years of performing on the road as "Diamond Teeth Mary" with Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Fats Waller, among others. from Barbara O'Reilly in "Florida Bound Blues" |
|
22 Mar 04 - 10:11 AM (#1142923) Subject: RE: OBIT: Passing of Mary Smith McClain From: katlaughing Wow, she must've really been something! 101, amazing. |
|
22 Mar 04 - 10:32 AM (#1142945) Subject: RE: OBIT: Passing of Mary Smith McClain From: Amos RIP -- I am ashamed that I haven't heard her sing. Anyone know if she recorded? A |
|
13 Sep 21 - 10:24 PM (#4119896) Subject: RE: OBIT: Passing of Mary Smith McClain From: keberoxu Bless her, but it appears her year/dates are 1902 - 2000, which would have made her 98 years of age -- and clearly she lived many lives in one. |
|
13 Sep 21 - 11:53 PM (#4119897) Subject: RE: OBIT: Passing of Mary Smith McClain From: Stilly River Sage Diamond Teeth Mary "Diamond Teeth" Mary McClain (born Mary Smith, August 27, 1902 – April 4, 2000) was an American blues and gospel singer and vaudeville entertainer, whose career as a performer extended from the 1910s to the 1990s. |