Bessie Smith

Dates:

April 15 (probably) 1894 – September 26, 1937

Occupation:

blues singer

Also known as:

Empress of the Blues

Bessie Smith Becomes an Orphan

Bessie Smith, one of seven children, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. By the time that she was nine, both of her parents had died. Smith’s older sister, Viola, stepped in and took on the challenge of raising Bessie and her four siblings. To help support her family, Smith began singing and dancing for money on the street.

In 1912, when her older brother Clarence came to town with the Moses Stokes Minstrel Troupe, Smith was hired as a dancer. Also in the show was singer Ma Rainey, the Mother of the Blues. At one time, it was believed that Rainey mentored the young Smith. It is now believed that if Rainey had any role in the development of Smith’s singing style, it was minimal.

Smith Enters Show Business

Within a couple of years, Smith became a regular singer at the 81 Theater in Atlanta Georgia, which was part of the Theater Owners Booking Association (TOBA). She also began touring on the TOBA circuit. Like most black entertainers who were booked through this circuit, Smith also had a grueling schedule that often paid very little. Nevertheless, it was the perfect time to hone her skills.

At the time, the recording of classic blues singers like Smith was extremely popular. Mamie Smith, no relation, had spurred this craze with her 1920 recording of “Crazy Blues.” It would take a few auditions, but Smith would finally record. In 1923, Smith’s talent was finally recognized when she made her first recording of the song “Down Hearted Blues,” which was authored by Alberta Hunter. It was a huge success, selling 780,000 copies in six months. Smith continued to record throughout the 1920s with such musicians as Fletcher Henderson, Louis Armstrong, Joe Smith, and James P. Johnson.

Along with making regular recordings, Smith also continued to perform on the road. During the summer months, she traveled with her tent show in her own railroad car and during the fall and winter she performed in theaters. Her shows were quite elaborate, and often included up to 40 performers. In 1929, she starred in W.C. Handy’s 17-minute film that featured her singing the song “St. Louis Blues.”

Smith’s Career Declines during the Great Depression

Smith emerged as an upcoming star just as the Great Depression was taking hold of the country. Thus, the effects of the Depression on the recording industry contributed to the decline of Smith’s career. While she continued to work in smaller venues, Smith transitioned into singing modern ballads. While her career looked promising, it was cut short when she was killed in an automobile accident on September 26, 1937.

Even though Smith is gone, she has not been forgotten and her influence on other singers is still prevalent today. The reissuance of her 160 recordings in the 1970s received Grammy awards, she was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and the U.S. Postal Service issued a 29 cent stamp in her honor in 1994.

This article was written on August 31, 2004 and modified on May 12, 2008.