Bessie Smith Biography

Known as the ‘Empress of Blues’, Bessie Smith was one of the strongest blues vocalists in 1920s and 1930s. Bessie lost both her parents at a tender age and was taken care of by her elder sister. To fend for the family, Bessie and her brother started performing on the street. With the initiation of her elder brother who was part of a travelling troupe, Bessie got an audition and was hired as dancer, because the troupe already had the famous singer Ma Rainey. She worked hard for the next few years performing in chorus lines, and shows. Later, she signed a contract with Columbia and started her recording career. Bessie went on to become the highest-paid coloured entertainer and performed before large audience with some of the most famous jazz and blues artists like Fletcher Henderson and James Johnson. As a classic Blues singer, Bessie brought her heart and soul to music. This is probably the reason that she outshone others who recorded the same number. Bessie sung many of Ma Rainey’s numbers and her audience were picky as they always waited for Bessie’s tracks which were sincere and full of gusto. She had a brief encounter with the world of Broadway and films but the Great Depression combined with her personal problems cut short her fame