Clara Smith (March 13, 1894 – February 2, 1935)[1] was an American classic female blues singer, billed as the "Queen of the Moaners",[1] although she had a lighter and sweeter voice than many of her contemporaries.
[2] Blues historians thinks that Smith most likely was introduced in her youth to "traveling tent shows",[3] that frequently stopped in Spartanburg and sparked her interest in performance.
[10] During her time performing, Smith met young Josephine Baker and chose to mentor her.
[11] Smith and Baker are thought to have had a romantic relationship for a time,[12] notably being referred to as "lady lovers"[2] by a colleague.
In 1933, she was on the road in Detroit, Michigan and worked at theaters in revues there until she succumbed to heart disease in February 1935, a month short of her 41st birthday.