136: Viola Smith (The Smith Sisters, The Coquettes)

Born in 1912, Viola Smith rose to fame during an era when female
musicians were often relegated to novelty status; but over a
career that spanned 50 years, she proved herself to be a
visionary far ahead of her time. She talks to Joe about her
childhood in Wisconsin, why becoming a traveling musician
distanced her from religion, Chick Webb, Louis Belson, Buddy Rich
("not a likeable fellow"), and ignoring Frank Sinatra's advances.