Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
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.
If you enjoyed this video please come to the website for all the photos, links, full biographies, interviews and videos:
thetombstonetourist.com
Enjoy!
#blues #bluesmusic #randbmusic #cemeterylovers #cemetery #vocalist #gravesite #celebritygraves #grave #famousgraves #blackhistory
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.
If you enjoyed this video please come to the website for all the photos, links, full biographies, interviews and videos:
thetombstonetourist.com
Enjoy!
#blues #bluesmusic #randbmusic #cemeterylovers #cemetery #vocalist #gravesite #celebritygraves #grave #famousgraves #blackhistory
