Bessie smith born april 14, 1894, chattanooga, tennessee, usa died september 26, 1937, in a car accident near clarksdale, mississippi, usa was an american blues singer. The life and times of bessie smith bookcaps study guides warner, jennifer on. Bessie smith april 15, 1894 september 26, 1937 was an american blues singer and songwriter. This document of smith s first year in the studio reveals a blues giant in full command of her talents. Bessie smith womens history libguides at full sail. Smith blazed a trail others tragically followed throughout the century. Hunter sang it during her engagement at the dreamland cafe, in chicago, where she performed with joe king oliver s. When mamie smith s first two blues records sold over a million copies in a less than a year, record companies began looking for blues talent all over. Check out the collection by bessie smith on amazon music. Smith worked her way into various singing roles on the theatre owners booking association toba circuit.
In the 1900 american census, bessie smith s mother, laura smith, said that bessie was born in chattanooga, tennessee in july 1892. However the 1910 census recorded her birthday as april 15, 1894, a date that appears on all subsequent documents which was observed by. Aug 06, 2019 as black feminist critics daphne duval harrison and angela davis have explained in their books on the classic blues, bessie smiths songs are tales of liberated women who are not afraid to speak. Scottishborn poet and woman of color kay profiles the great american blues singer, whose life inspired some of the poems in.
Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of bessie smith and what it means. Bessie smith songs downhearted blues by the early 1920s, smith had settled down and was living in philadelphia, and in 1923 she met and married a man named jack gee. Orphaned at the age of nine and raised by her older sisters and brothers, bessie smith began singing and dancing for money on the streets of chattanooga while she was still a young girl. Bessie smith grave, unmarked since37, finally gets a. Bessie smith is the author of undisputed queen of the blues 4. Smiths downhearted blues was a hit, selling 780,000 copies in six months, a staggering amount for 1923, when records were particularly expensive. As queen latifah steps into the role of bessie smith in hbos biopic bessie, which airs this saturday, were taking a look at how smiths meeting with the mother of the blues early in her. Bessie smiths recording career began in 1923, when columbia records signed her to a deal. Bessie smith combined natural earthiness and vigor with remarkable musical sensitivity. And while later dates especially the epochal 1925 sessions with louis armstrong offer more in the way of the eras hornblowing royalty, these early sides nicely showcase smith in the unadorned company of a variety of top pianists like clarence williams and fletcher henderson. Bessie smith was a famous blues and jazz singer from america who is known for her songs like downhearted blues and the st. Bessie smith 18941937, also known as the empress of blues, is considered one of the greatest jazz and blues vocalists of the 1920s.
Blues singer bessie smith recorded the song with piano accompaniment by clarence williams on february 16, 1923. Born into poverty and orphaned at an early age, bessie smith became the greatest blues singer of her era, recording more than 160 songs between 1923 and 1933. It was a far cry from the 780,000 copies of downhearted blues that bessie had sold in 1923. Bessie smith grave, unmarked since37, finally gets a stone. Feb 26, 2020 bessie smith songs downhearted blues by the early 1920s, smith had settled down and was living in philadelphia, and in 1923 she met and married a man named jack gee. The next man i get has got to promise me to be mine, all mine. Mar 10, 2020 bessie smith was born in chattanooga, tennessee on april 15, 1894. May 29, 2019 bessie smith 18941937, also known as the empress of blues, is considered one of the greatest jazz and blues vocalists of the 1920s. She began to sing at a young age and in 1923 signed a contract with columbia records.
A lot of people think that she was one of the best singers of her time, and along with louis armstrong, she was an important influence on later jazz singers. She took the rough, undisciplined blues form and converted it into exquisitely subtle jazz, without losing any of the power. On 26 september 1923, cemetery blues was firstly issued. Feb 06, 2020 bessie smith 18941937, also known as the empress of blues, is considered one of the greatest jazz and blues vocalists of the 1920s. Bessie smith down hearted blues, 1923 jazz legend youtube. Bessie did not have access to an education because her parents had died and her elder sister was taking care of her. She launched her recording career in the early 1920s and spent more than a decade touring the south with other black musicians. Bessie smith down hearted blues lyrics genius lyrics. Bessie smith july 9, 1892 or april 15, 1894 september 26, 1937 was an american blues singer.
Bessie smith was an american blues singer widely renowned during the jazz age. Her early career was influenced by ma rainey, and smith performed on stage throughout the southern u. She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and a major influence on subsequent jazz vocalists. Bessie smith had a strong voice with a fullthroated delivery, a delicate sense of phrasing, a good ear for a song and a commanding personal presence. Bessie smith black women in blues research guides at. Gee but its hard to love someone when that someone dont love you. The reader is tempted to grant the author this amount of poetic license in an otherwise appealing text.
Buy bessie smiths album titled the blues biography to enjoy in your home or car, or gift. Bessie smith, the empress of the blues the pioneering singer influenced blues, jazz, rock and beyond with her powerful voice and inventive delivery, displaying a. Gee, but its hard to love someone when that someone dont love you im so disgusted, heartbroken too, ive got those downhearted blues on. How bessie smith influenced a century of popular music. She made 160 recordings in all, in many of which she was accompanied by some of the great jazz musicians of the time, including fletcher henderson, benny goodman, and louis armstrong. Gee, but its hard to love someone when that someone dont love you. Her influences can be seen and heard in performers such as billie holiday, aretha franklin, and janis joplin. When mamie smiths first two blues records sold over a million copies in a less than a year, record companies began looking for blues talent all over the south. Down hearted blues 1923 bessie smith vocal clarence williams piano. She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and, along with louis armstrong, a major influence on other jazz vocalists. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this. Her millions of record sales and nonstop touring to packed houses made her the most influential blues singer of the 1920s, whose records crossed over to. Jun 17, 2019 as queen latifah steps into the role of bessie smith in hbos biopic bessie, which airs this saturday, were taking a look at how smith s meeting with the mother of the blues early in her.
Mamie smith considered the first woman to record a blues song crazy blues and its right here for you, both in 1920, mamie smith was the catalyst for the great blues boom of the 1920s. Bessie smith biography life, children, death, mother. Aug 09, 1970 about 50 admirers gathered at the graveside for the dedica tion of the stone, inscribed with the words, the greatest blues singer in the world will never stop singingbessie smith. As black feminist critics daphne duval harrison and angela davis have explained in their books on the classic blues, bessie smiths songs are tales of. Bessie smith author of undisputed queen of the blues. Bessie smith is regarded as the empress of blues, and considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 1900s. In the census in 1910, her sister, viola smith said that bessie s birthday was april 15, 1894. Known as the empress of blues, bessie smith was one of the strongest blues vocalists in 1920s and 1930s. Bessie smith smith in 1936 background information birth n. So mesmerizing was her vocal style in person, reinforced as it was by her underacclaimed acting and. Trouble, trouble, ive had it all my days, trouble, trouble, ive had it all my days. This is only a handful of the books we hold about bessie smith, blues singers, and women in jazz. Her first recording included downhearted blues, which became her most popular hit.
The blues biography by bessie smith 778325252021 cd. Nicknamed the empress of the blues, she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. Buy bessie smiths album titled the blues biography to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. This document of smiths first year in the studio reveals a blues giant in full command of her talents. Cultural anthropologist maureen mahon makes the case. But smith s voice was remarkable, filling the largest hall without amplification the expansion of sound and reaching out to each listener in beautiful, earthy tones. Bessie smith strut article about bessie smith strut by. She was sometimes called the empress of the blues and was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Downhearted blues is a blues song composed by american jazz singer alberta hunter and musician lovie austin. Downhearted blues lyrics bessie smith downhearted blues.
The greatest female blues singer of all time, with a passionate voice and thundering delivery. She was originally nicknamed queen of the blues by columbia. Chattanooga, tennessee the bessie smith strut is an evening event held as part of the annual riverbend festival in chattanooga, tennessee. Bessie smith april 15, 1894 september 26, 1937 was an american blues singer widely renowned during the jazz age. As black feminist critics daphne duval harrison and angela davis have explained in their books on the classic blues, bessie smith s songs are tales of liberated women who are not afraid to speak. Crowned as empress of the blues, bessie smith earned the honor as the greatest classic blues singer of the 1920s. Known as the empress of the blues, she was a bold, supremely confident artist who sang with breathtaking emotional intensity on such songs as down hearted blues, empty bed blues, and nobody knows you when youre down and out. The strut was named in homage to one of the most important women in the history of american music. She also had other records such as downhearted blues and gulf coast blues.
Read on to know more about her childhood, career, profile and timeline. The collection is an outstanding introductory set to bessie smiths music and legend and to the basics of blues and pop songwriting. Downhearted blues was the bestselling blues record of its time. Written by pianist lovie austin and alberta hunter, downhearted blues and its bside, gulf coast blueswas the first recording by bessie smith. But smiths voice was remarkable, filling the largest hall without amplification the expansion of sound and reaching out to each listener in beautiful, earthy tones. Soon she was among the highestpaid black performers of her time with hits like downhearted blues. In bessie smith recordings, including the classic down hearted blues, which became an enormous success, selling more than two million copies. Born into poverty in chattanooga, tennessee, bessie smith began singing for coins on street corners and rose to become the largestselling recording artist of her day. Bessie smith was born in chattanooga, tennessee on april 15, 1894. Bessie smith biography childhood, life achievements. That is the date that is on all later documents, and was the one that smith used. A summary of nobody knows you when youre down and out in s bessie smith. About 50 admirers gathered at the graveside for the dedica tion of the stone, inscribed with the words, the greatest blues singer in the world will never stop singingbessie smith. Nicknamed the empress of the blues, she was considered by many to be the greatest blues singer of all time.
Bessie smith downhearted blues lyrics songmeanings. Trouble, trouble, ive had it all my days trouble, trouble, ive had it all my days. She is often regarded as one of the greatest singersbessie smith was a blues singer. Bessie smith is born in chattanooga, tennessee history. Bessie smith, the empress of the blues the pioneering singer influenced blues, jazz, rock and beyond with her powerful voice and inventive delivery, displaying a greatness rooted in the. Jun 03, 2009 from my original 78rpm disk, not from a cd. In 1958, the release of dinah washington sings bessie smith and lavern baker sings bessie smith indicated a continued interest in the empress of the blues two decades after her death. Bessie smith african american history libguides at full. When it rained five days and the sky turned dark as night when it rained five days and the sky turned dark as night then troubles takin place in the lowlands at night i. The songs final line ive got the world in a jug, the stoppers in my hand is one of the most iconic lyrics of the classic blues tradition. She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and was a major influence on fellow blues singers, as well as jazz vocalists. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Bessie smith african american history libguides at. Bessie smith april 15, 1894 september 26, 1937 was an american blues singer.
Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. We do not have any tags for downhearted blues lyrics. Smiths version of downhearted blues sold a reported 780,000 copies in 1923, a minor miracle for a song that had already hit nationwide for a variety of different artists. Kay prefers to side with writers like edward albee, whose play the death of bessie smith helped promulgate the myth, because even if it didnt happen that way, it could have. The collection is an outstanding introductory set to bessie smith s music and legend and to the basics of blues and pop songwriting. Once jackson began recording in the 1940s, her voice was compared to smiths, even though she only sang sacred music. According to the 1900 census, bessie smith was born in chattanooga, tennessee in july 1892. The life and times of bessie smith bookcaps study guides. Nicknamed the empress of the blues, smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. Bessie smith april 15, 1894 september 26, 1937 was an american blues singer nicknamed the empress of the blues, smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s.
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