Little is really known of Mabel Louise Smith aka Big Maybelle. As with so many pioneers of R&B she was never interviewed in her lifetime and passed away in 1972 just as historians of popular culture were finally getting interested in the architects of R&B. This double disc set gives a new approach to her recorded work, beginning with two rare live radio broadcasts for Alan Freed along with her original LPs for the Savoy and Cub labels presented together for the first time. Also included is her only Christmas 45 along with all of her legendary performance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958. Accompanying booklet Includes fully detailed liner notes.
