The Life of Trixie Smith May Have Coined the Phrase Rock and Roll

Influential African American blues singer, songwriter, and vaudeville entertainer Trixie Smith recorded music on so-called “race records,“ which allowed content that would never have been tolerated on mainstream white records. One example comes from lyrics she sang on a “Black Swan“ record in 1922: “My daddy rocks me with a steady roll.“ Many historians credit the moment as the genesis of the term “rock ’n’ roll.“ Trixie Smith was an American blues singer and vaudeville performer who gained popularity during the 1920s. While information about her early life is limited, it is believed that she was born on April 14, 1895, in Atlanta, Georgia. Smith began her career as a singer in vaudeville shows and toured extensively, performing in theaters and clubs across the United States. She possessed a powerful and expressive voice that suited the blues and jazz styles of the time. In 1922, Smith signed a recording contract with Black Swan Records, one