Big Maybelle

Birth Name:

Mabel Louise Smith

Birth Date:

May 1, 1924

Birth Place:

Jackson, Tennessee

Death Date:

January 23, 1972

Place of Death:

Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio

Age:

Cause of Death:

Diabetic coma

Cemetery Name:

Evergreen Memorial Park

Claim to Fame:

Music

Big Maybelle was a powerhouse American rhythm-and-blues singer whose career helped bridge gospel, blues, R&B, and early rock ’n’ roll. She began singing gospel as a child and became a professional performer in the 1930s. After early recordings for King Records, she signed with Okeh in 1952, where producer Fred Mendelsohn gave her the stage name Big Maybelle. Her first major success came with “Gabbin’ Blues,” which reached No. 3 on the R&B chart, followed in 1953 by the hits “Way Back Home” and “My Country Man.” In 1955, Maybelle recorded “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” produced by Quincy Jones, two years before Jerry Lee Lewis’s much more famous rock ’n’ roll version. Although Maybelle’s recording was not a major chart hit, it became one of her signature performances. After moving to Savoy Records, she scored another major success with “Candy” in 1956, which became one of her biggest-selling records and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Other notable Savoy recordings included “That’s a Pretty Good Love,” “Ring Dang Dilly,” “Tell Me Who,” and “I Don’t Want to Cry.” She also performed at the Apollo Theater and appeared at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, footage of which was included in the documentary Jazz on a Summer’s Day.

In The End …

Maybelle continued recording through the 1960s for labels including Brunswick, Scepter, Chess, and Rojac, adapting her powerful blues style to the emerging soul sound. Her later hits included “Don’t Pass Me By” and, in 1967, “96 Tears,” her final significant chart entry. She continued performing despite declining health and died in Cleveland in 1972 at age 47; her final album, The Last of Big Maybelle, was released posthumously in 1973. Her legacy was later recognized with induction into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2011.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Evergreen Memorial Park

5505 Northfield Road

Bedford Heights, Ohio, 44146

USA

North America

Map:

Evergreen Memorial Park in Ohio

Grave Location:

Section O, Lot 32, Grave 5

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery, stay to the right and after the first hard right then make a hard left and park. Walk about 100 feet further down the road and Mabel’s flat marker is on the right five spaces off the road.

Grave Location GPS

41.40975, -81.521983

Visiting The Grave:

Photos:

[+]

FAQ's

Big Maybelle was born on May 1, 1924.

Big Maybelle was born in Jackson, Tennessee.

Big Maybelle died on January 23, 1972.

Big Maybelle died in Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio.

Big Maybelle was 47.

The cause of death was Diabetic coma.

Big Maybelle's grave is in Evergreen Memorial Park

Videos Featuring Big Maybelle:

The Queen Mother Of Soul | The Untold Truth Of Big Maybelle

Candy

Great remake of 96 Tears

Whole Lotta Shakin´ Goin´ On

Big Maybelle One Monkey Don't Stop The Show

Big Maybelle " A Good Man Is Hard To Find " (1959)

Watch YouTube video titled Big Maybelle - Live (1958)

Big Maybelle