BESSIE SMITH

Biography

Bessie Smith, born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1894, rose from a childhood marked by poverty and loss to become one of the most influential blues singers of the 20th century. Orphaned at a young age, Smith and her siblings survived by performing on street corners, with Bessie singing and dancing while her brother played guitar. Her early exposure to performance led her to join traveling minstrel shows, and by 1912, she was performing as a dancer with the Moses Stokes troupe, where she met the legendary blues singer Ma Rainey. Although Rainey did not formally teach Smith to sing, she played a crucial role in helping Smith develop her stage presence and confidence, shaping her early career.

Smith's powerful, emotive voice and commanding stage presence quickly set her apart. In 1923, she recorded 'Downhearted Blues,' which became a massive hit and launched her recording career with Columbia Records. Over the next decade, Smith recorded more than 160 songs, becoming one of the highest-paid Black performers of her era and earning the title 'Empress of the Blues.' Her music blended classic blues with elements of jazz and ragtime, and her songs often addressed the struggles and injustices faced by African Americans. Despite a decline in popularity during the 1930s due to changing musical tastes and the Great Depression, Smith continued to perform until her untimely death in a car accident in 1937. Her legacy endures, as she paved the way for future generations of blues and jazz musicians and remains a symbol of resilience and artistry.

Fun Facts

• Bessie Smith was known as the 'Empress of the Blues' and was the highest-paid Black entertainer in America during the 1920s.
• Her recording of 'Downhearted Blues' sold over two million copies in its first year, a remarkable achievement for the time.
• Smith was a strong, physically imposing woman, reputed for her fiery temper and willingness to stand up for herself and others.
• Janis Joplin, a later rock icon, helped pay for a gravestone for Bessie Smith's grave in 1970, more than 30 years after Smith's death.

Associated Acts

• Bessie Smith & Her Down Home Trio - eponymous
• Bessie Smith & Her Blue Boys - original

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Ma Rainey - Ma Rainey took Smith under her wing during their time together in minstrel shows, helping her develop stage presence and professionalism, though not formally teaching her to sing. (Touring with Moses Stokes troupe and Rabbit Foot Minstrels) [circa 1912–1915]

Key Collaborators

• Louis Armstrong - Trumpeter and jazz legend who recorded with Smith on several classic tracks. ('St. Louis Blues' (1925), other Columbia Records sessions)
• Fletcher Henderson - Pianist and bandleader who accompanied Smith on early recordings. (Columbia Records sessions) [1923–1925]

Artists Influenced

• Billie Holiday - Holiday cited Smith as a major influence on her vocal style and emotional delivery. (Holiday's blues recordings and performances) [1930s–1950s]
• Janis Joplin - Joplin was inspired by Smith's raw vocal power and expressive style, even helping to purchase a gravestone for Smith's unmarked grave. (Joplin's blues-influenced rock performances) [1960s–1970]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Moaners (The Cuban Tapes)
2. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out - 78rpm Version (The Essential Bessie Smith)
3. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
4. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
5. Devil's Gonna Git You
6. St. Louis Blues (Louis Armstrong: Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man 1923-1934)
7. 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do
8. I'm Wild About That Thing - 78 rpm Version
9. Baby Won't You Please Come Home (The Essential Bessie Smith)
10. 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do (The Collection)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #blues, #jazz, #vaudeville-blues