"Big Maybelle" was born Mabel Smith May 1, 1924 in Jackson, TN.  Her singing career started in the local church choir and led to her becoming one of the most popular entertainers at the Apollo Theater in New York.  She scored her biggest hit in 1956 with "Candy" and went on to perform at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, featured in the film Jazz on a Summer's Day.  She died January 23, 1972 in Cleveland, Ohio of diabetes.