Artist:Trixie Smith
Song:Railroad Blues
Album:Complete Recorded Works Volume 2 1925-1939
Trixie Smith was a vaudeville performer who could also sing. So she made a few records in the 20s. She certainly wasn't as well known as Bessie Smith (no relation). But her recordings are of interest because they were arranged and produced by Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong plays cornet. Trixie was born in Atlanta probably in 1895. After attending Selma University in Alabama, she moved to New York in 1915. Supposedly she was 20 years old so that's why 1895 is thought to be her year of birth. After playing in local clubs, she started performing on the vaudeville circuit in 1916. She also performed on Broadway as Bessie Lee. She first recorded in 1922 for Black Swan Records first with James P. Johnson and then with Fletcher Henderson. Those recordings are on volume 1 of Document's 2CD collection of Trixie's recordings. Henderson continued to work with Trixie when she recorded for Paramount Records in 1924 and 1925. Railroad Blues is probably Trixie's best known song as it appeared in the 1991 film Fried Green Tomatoes. And of course Louis Armstrong plays cornet on several tracks including a solo on Railroad Blues. After these recordings, Trixie performed in cabarets and in some Broadway shows but nothing notable. After appearing in a couple of films for black film pioneer Oscar Micheaix, she recorded for Decca in 1938 mostly with Sidney Bechet. These recordings are on volume 2 of Document's collection. It looks like she may have retired as she changed her name to Trixie Muse. She died on Sept. 29, 1943 at age 48. Here's a video for Railroad Blues by Trixie Smith.
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