Artist

Helene Smith

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Coined as the first lady of Miami Soul, Helene Smith's career began when Johnny Pearsall, owner of Johnny's Records hired her to manage the shop while he worked. She would not only be the first artist to record for Clarke-Pearsall Productions (Miami's first independent black production company), but would also marry Pearsall before the end of the 1960s. Clark and Pearsall would cut Smith's <a href="spotify:track:4bKStT17Ybw73BMxfH4Rdu" data-name="Pot Can't Talk About the Kettle">Pot Can't Talk About the Kettle</a>, a Motown-lite number about Black persons trying to hold back other Black persons at Empire, a tiny storefront outfit with a four-track recorder. The duo brought the track to WMBM and WAME radio stations where it was an immediate local smash. The response prompted promoter Steve Palmer to release the cut on his fledging Blue Star label. No real money was made, but it put the taste in their mouth. In 1964, Clark and Pearsall took Helene to Criteria Studios and cut <a href="spotify:track:4SN9SREbNus6nf815ExOH1" data-name="You Got to Do Your Share">You Got to Do Your Share</a> and <a href="spotify:track:6cxAEbVTTCF1MZsxsHfO2N" data-name="Willing and Able">Willing and Able</a>, both both of which would be the first release on Reid Records. After starting many different labels in which Smith would record on, Clark-Pearsall started their final venture, Deep City Records. 1968 marked the end of Smith's and Deep City's career with a final album "Sings Sweet Soul" comprised of Helene Smith's singles from the time.

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