Carrie Smith was born Carrie Louise Smith on August 25, 1925 in Fort Gaines, Georgia and as a member of her church choir performed at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival.

She first won notice singing with Big Tiny Little in the early Seventies, but became internationally known in 1974 when she played Bessie Smith (no relation) in Dick Hyman's “Satchmo Remembered” at Carnegie Hall. She then launched a solo career, performing into the 80s with the New York Jazz Repertory Orchestra, Tyree Glenn, Yank Lawson, and the World’s Greatest Jazz Band.

Carrie recorded…