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Bessie Smith
Jazz and Blues
Scott #2854
September 17, 1994 in Greenville, MS
Designed by Howard Koslow
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Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee
in 1894. (The exact date is unknown.) She was one of seven children born to
William and Laura Smith.
Bessie's parents both died while she was young
and she was raised by her older sister Viola. Even as a youngster, Bessie had
a beautiful voice and her oldest brother, Clarence encouraged Bessie to pursue
a singing career. Bessie and her brother Andrew sang and performed on
Chattanooga street corners earning pennies and nickels from passersby.
In 1911, Bessie began working for the Moses
Stokes Company. Ma
Rainey who also worked for Moses Stokes heard her singing and in
1912 Bessie joined Ma's group, the Rabbit Foot Minstrels.
By the time Bessie was 27 she was already an
established star. She began auditioning for record companies in 1921 and was
told that her voice was too rough to record. However, in 1923, Columbia
Records signed her to a contract and Bessie recorded Gulf Coast Blues
and Down Hearted Blues accompanied by Clarence Williams
on the piano. Bessie recorded over 150 songs for Columbia including the blues
classics Mama's Got the Blues, Nobody Knows When Your Down
and Out, and Poor Man's Blues.
Bessie began drinking heavily in her late teens
and her alcoholism continued to worsen over time. Her career began to falter
in the 1930s due to her drinking and poor management of her affairs.
Bessie was driving through Clarksdale
Mississippi with her friend Richard Morgan on September 27, 1937 when she was
involved in a fatal automobile accident. Her arm was completely severed and
Bessie bled to death.
Bessie Smith, The Empress of Blues,
was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Sources:
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia
Africana
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