Verdelle Smith


Verdelle Smith is an American singer and actress. She had a one-hit wonder with the song Tar and Cement in 1966, an adaptation of the Italian massive hit "Il ragazzo della via Gluck" from Adriano Celentano.

Personal life

Smith was born to Josephine and John Smith in Petersburg, Florida. She has eight siblings. The family moved to Neptune, New Jersey when she was one year old. She graduated from Asbury Park High School, New Jersey in 1958. She moved to New York City where she worked as a secretary. In the 1980s she earned a degree in humanities from Touro College, New York.
She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Performing career

After arriving in New York City, Smith partnered with Billy Byrd in a song and dance act. They toured the "borscht circuit hotels" in the Catskill Mountains. They secured a recording contract with Columbia Records and their first release was Juanita in 1965.

Theater

Early in her career, Smith joined the Harlem Y Drama Workshop and appeared in several plays, including: None of us are ever born brave by Norman Harris, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and Shadow of the Birch Tree by Gertrude Greenidge.
She won Most promising actress from Harlem "Y" Drama Workshop in 1965 and was nominated for Best supporting actress in 1966.

Selective discography

Singles

Issued on Capitol Records in the United States. Some also on Capitol in Canada and Australia; EMI in the UK; Peak Records in New Zealand.

Albums