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Bessie Smith: Empress Of The Blues

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Bessie Smith was born on April 15, 1894, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was an African American popular blues singer in the 1920’s and 1930’s era. During this time Smith was often regarded as one of the greatest blues singers of her time. She was also dubbed as the “Empress of the Blues”. Bessie Smith began her own musical career in1913 at Atlanta’s 81 theaters. By 1920, she had established a reputation in the South and along the Eastern Seaboard. In 1920, Smith sold over 100,000 copies of her recording “Crazy Blues” on Okeh Records label recorded by singer Mamie Smith, this recording pointed her to a new market. The recording industry had not directed its product towards blacks at this time, but the success of the record had inspired
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Bessie Smith was a jazz and blues vocalist, deep and powerful voice who her innumerable fans and earned her the title "Empress of the Blues." She was conceived in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 15, 1894, and unfortunately passed on September 26, 1937, in a car accident. Bessie had numerous achievements as a dynamic blues artist through 1912-1937. Through battles and diligent work, Bessie was remaining in Philadelphia and she caught the eyes of 'Columbia Records', who found Bessie's stunning ability in singing. At that point In her first album, she sang a track known as 'Downhearted Blues' which right away ended up renowned and sold a surmised of 800,000 copies.

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