Vera Konstantinovna Smirnova (born September 15, 1893 in St. Petersburg, Russia – died May 11, 1975 in Miami, Florida)

Russian singer (contralto or alto), performer of Russian gypsy romances, folk, factory, and street songs.

Smirnova studied voice at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. She emigrated to the United States just before the Russian Revolution, arriving in Seattle on October 15, 1917. Settling in New York, she began performing Russian songs in émigré restaurants and clubs all across the United States. In 1919, she married a fellow Russian émigré, Alexander A. Agafonoff. In November 1926, both became naturalized U.S. citizens. Later, they changed their last name to Alexander.

Smirnova made her first recordings of Gypsy songs still in Russia, on the Артистотипія (Artistotipiya) label. In the United States, she recorded two titles for Columbia in November 1919, but her recording career really began to take off in 1924, when she sang on record both for Victor and Columbia. Until November 1929, she recorded at least 48 titles, mostly for Columbia, but also for Brunswick (1928) and Okeh (1929).

For the Russian opera singer, please use Vera Smirnova. For the author of children's books, use Вера Смирнова.