Bessie Smith (1895-1937)
Elizabeth "Bessie" Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1895. She was one of seven children, and her family faced various hardships due to the death of Smith's father soon after her birth. To add to the hardships, Smith's mother and two brothers died in 1906. She began her singing career in 1923 when she signed a contract with Colombia Records. The "Empress of Blues" worked with many other musicians such as Louis Armstrong and James P. Johnson. Her most famous songs include "Backwater Blues and "Cold in Hand Blues." Her career took a turn for the worst due to the Great Depression. Smith died in 1937 at the age of 43 due to bad injuries fro a car accident. To hear "Cold in Hand Blues" click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q_oh1yKmCU