WHISPERING SMITH

Moses "Whispering" Smith (January 25, 1932 – April 28, 1984) was an American blues harmonicist and singer. He recorded tracks including "A Thousand Miles from Nowhere" and "Texas Flood", and worked with both Lightnin' Slim and Silas Hogan. He was inducted into the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame.

Smith was born in Union Church, Mississippi

In the 1960s, Smith's harmonica playing accompanied recordings by swamp blues notables Lightnin' Slim and Silas Hogan before he was able to record some tracks of his own making. At this time he worked alongside the Crowley, Louisiana based record producer, J. D. "Jay" Miller, and his output was released by Excello Records. His singles included "Mean Woman Blues", "I Tried So Hard", and "Don't Leave Me", plus the instrumental tracks "Live Jive" and "Hound Dog Twist"

Although he was a powerful singer, and a straight but unsophisicated harmonica player,his potential was diminished by his appearance towards the end of the swamp blues period. He recorded his final album for Excello, Over Easy, in 1971.

Whispering Smith died in April 1984 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 52.

Artist Biography by Bill Dahl  In ALLMUSIC 

Harpist Whispering Smith made it in on the tail end of the swamp blues movement that swept the Baton Rouge region, working with Lightnin' Slim and Silas Hogan before making his own fine singles for Crowley, LA producer J.D. Miller.

Alternating down-in-the-bayou entries such as "Mean Woman Blues" (not the Elvis Presley/Roy Orbison rocker), "I Tried So Hard," and "Don't Leave Me Baby" with the storming instrumentals "Live Jive" (also featuring the fleet guitar of Ulysses Williams) and "Hound Dog Twist," Smith was an excellent performer who arrived in Crowley just a trifle late, after the heyday of the swamp blues sound.

Excello decided to give swamp music another try in 1970 without Miller's expert supervision, inviting Smith back to cut an LP in Baton Rouge that just didn't live up to his former glory.

                          



                                     
               

                              

Whispering Smith and family, Lousiana, 1972 © Val Wilmer