| Smoky Babe | |
| Birth Name: | Robert Brown |
| Birth Date: | 31 July 1927 |
| Birth Place: | Itta Bena, Mississippi, United States |
| Death Date: | May 1973 (age 45) (probable) |
| Death Place: | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States |
| Instrument: | Guitar, vocals |
| Genre: | Louisiana blues, Piedmont blues |
| Occupation: | Guitarist, singer, songwriter |
| Years Active: | 1960s |
Robert Brown (July 31, 1927 – May 1973),[1] [2] who performed as Smoky Babe, was an American acoustic blues guitarist and singer, whose recording career was restricted to a couple of recording sessions in the early 1960s. He has been variously described as a Louisiana blues, Piedmont blues and blues revival musician.[3] His most noteworthy recordings are "Going Downtown Boogie" and "Ain't Got No Rabbit Dog".[2]
Brown was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi.[2] He was recorded by Harry Oster of Louisiana State University in 1960 and 1961,[4] [5] and the results were released by the Folk Lyric, Bluesville and Storyville labels.[6]
Other than his recordings, little is known of his life. The circumstances of his death are unclear. Some sources report that he died in June 1975,[3] but the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc have stated that he probably died in May 1973 in Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[1]
His song, "Boogy", is included on the compilation album Blues Roots: Give Me the Blues (1979),[7] and "Hottest Brand Goin'" and "Locomotive Blues" are included in the collection The Bluesville Years, Vol. 9: Down the Country Way (1998).[8]