Effie Smith facts for kids

Effie Smith (born Effie Mae Bly, April 10, 1914 – February 11, 1977) was a talented American singer and comedian. She was known for her blues and jazz music. Many people remember her for a funny song called "Dial That Telephone." This song became very popular in 1965.

Effie Smith: A Star of Jazz and Blues

Effie Smith was a well-known American singer and comedian. She made people laugh and enjoy her music for many years. Her career lasted from the 1930s into the late 1970s. She was especially famous for her songs in the Jazz and R&B styles.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Effie Mae Bly was born on April 10, 1914, in McAlester, Oklahoma. After she got married, she took her husband Fred Smith's last name. By 1940, Effie had moved to Los Angeles, California. She lived there with her two children.

She started her singing career by working on a WPA project. The WPA was a government program that helped people find jobs during tough times. Effie sang in a group called the Three Shades of Rhythm. She also performed with famous orchestras. These included the Lionel Hampton and Benny Carter orchestras.

Singing for the Troops

During World War II, Effie Smith helped entertain soldiers. She appeared on several Armed Forces Radio Service broadcasts. These shows were made for military members. On these broadcasts, she sang with well-known musicians. She performed with saxophonist Coleman Hawkins. She also sang with a young pianist named André Previn, who was only 16 at the time.

Recording Her Own Music

Effie Smith married John Laurence Criner, who was a comedian and record producer. She recorded many songs with different record labels. Some of these labels were G&G and Gem. These were part of Criner's Royal Records group. She also recorded for Miltone Records in 1947. One of her songs was a special "answer record." This meant it was a song that responded to another popular song.

"Dial That Telephone" Becomes a Hit

In the 1950s, Effie recorded many songs for Aladdin Records. In 1953, she recorded the first version of "Dial That Telephone." This song was a funny story told through music. In it, she complains to a friend about her husband being away. She also recorded with Isaac M. "Ike" Carpenter's orchestra.

In 1955 and 1956, she recorded more songs. One of these was "Champagne Mind with a Soda Water Income." She sang this with a group called the Squires. She recorded "Dial That Telephone" several times over the years. A new recording of the song came out in 1965. This version became a big hit. It reached number 36 on the Billboard R&B chart.

In 1968, she had another popular song. It was called "Harper Valley P.T.A. Gossip." This was a spoken story that added to the famous song "Harper Valley PTA" by Jeannie C. Riley. It reached number 43 on the R&B chart.

Later Career and Legacy

Later in her life, Effie Smith worked in the music business behind the scenes. She helped promote records for Stax Records. She also worked in A&R, which means "Artists and Repertoire." This job involves finding new talent and helping artists record their music.

Effie Smith passed away from cancer in Los Angeles in 1977. She was 62 years old.

A collection of her recordings from 1945 to 1953 was released in the 1990s. Effie's son, Fred Sledge Smith, also became very successful in music. He was a songwriter and record producer. He worked with artists like The Olympics and Bill Cosby.