BESSIE SMITH

QUICK FACTS

Occupation: Singer

Birth Date: April 15, 1894

Death Date: September 26, 1937

Best known for : Singing blues, also referred to as The Empress of blues, she was the most popular female blues singer of 1920s & 1930s.

HER PROFESSIONAL CAREER

Her professional career began in 1912.

She sang in the same show as Ma Rainey, who took her under her wing and coached her.

In 1920 she had her own show in Atlantic City and in 1923 she moved to New York.

She was then signed by Columbia and her first recording made her famous.

DURING HER RECORDING CAREER

Bessie worked with many important jazz performers, such as saxophonist Sidney Bechet and pianists Fletcher Henderson and James P. Johnson.

With Johnson she recorded one of her most famous songs “Back Water Blues”.

She also collaborated with the legendary jazz artist Lois Armstrong on several tunes, including “Cold In Hand Blues” and “I Ain’t Gonna Play No Second Fiddle”.

CAREER DOWNFALL

By the late 1920s Bessie’s career wasn’t going so good.

She stopped working with Columbia in 1931

Bessie made her final recordings in 1933 with John Hammond

A dedicated performer , Smith still continued to tour.

COMEBACK

While working on a comeback, Bessie Smith died on September 26, 1937, as a result of an automobile accident.

Since her death, her music continues to win over new fans and collections of her songs have sold well over the years.

Smith has been immortalized in numerous works, including Edward Albee’s 1961 play : The Death of Bessie Smith.

REMEMBERING BESSIE SMITH

April 15, 1894 - September 26, 1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX8ptPn3P9I&feature=fvst937