Vanita Smythe

Vanita Smythe was born on January 13, 1925 in Detroit Michigan to African American parents. She started her career in soundies in 1946 at the age of 21, with 'What Good Am I Without You?' followed by 'Does You Do or Does You Don't?', 'They Raided The Joint', 'I Need a Playmate', 'Get It Off Your Mind', 'Sho' Had a Wonderful Time', 'Low, Short, and Squatty', and 'Back Door Man'. She also did 2 films in 1947 called 'Reet, Petite, and Gone' and 'Ebony Parade'. Most of Vanita's soundies pushed against propriety as she sang about sex and drugs openly, and William Forest Crouch had no problem directing these racy films since soundies weren't affected by Hollywood law. The seemingly promising career in soundies was ended soon after Vanita started. She started soundies too late in the game and the soundies era ended in 1947.Her role as the evil Rusty in 'Reet, Petite, and Gone' proved that Vanita had talent in that field as well, but because of racism in those days and the fact that Vanita wasn't light enough to play roles that most High Yellow African Americans were given and the fact that she wasn't dark enough to play a maid really affected her career. Then she was forced to go on a 3 year hiatus but finally in 1950 she was signed with Regal Records and recorded 'Until I Fell For You', 'You Got Me Cryin' For You', and 'Lonesome For You'. But her career was stopped once again in 1951, when she married Clarence Paul record producer for Motown Records in Tennesee. This time however, her career as a Singer and Actress was over permanently. Vanita chose to live the simple life like many women of those day led - as a housewife. Staying very low key for the rest of her life Vanita Smythe Pauling died in January of 1994 in Detroit, Michigan.