Bessie Smith T-Shirt

Bessie Smith (1892-1937) was known as the 'Empress of the Blues' and was one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Jazz Age. Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee into poverty, she homed her powerful, emotive voice, touring with minstrel shows and under the mentorship of Ma Rainey. Her 1923 debut recording 'Down-Hearted Blues' sold over 750,000 copies, launching a string of hits that made her the highest-paid Black performer of her time. Smith's bold delivery and emotional depth bridged blues and emerging jazz, influencing countless artists including Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin. A larger than life figure, she died tragically in a 1937 car accident in Mississippi.