Bessie Smith
1894 – 1937

Bessie Smith

American blues singer (1892–1937)

dancerstreet artistmime artistmusiciansinger
Born
1894-04-15, Chattanooga
Died
1937-09-26
Birthplace state
Tennessee

Biography

Bessie Smith was an African-American blues singer widely renowned during the Jazz Age. Nicknamed the "Empress of the Blues" and formerly Queen of the Blues, she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1930s. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, 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.

Occupation

Bessie Smith is recorded as a dancer, a street artist, a mime artist, a musician and a singer, born in Tennessee (1894–1937).

Connections to Tennessee

Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1894. Explore other notable figures from Tennessee, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Native Heritage
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More notable figures from Tennessee

Other historical figures born in Tennessee, ranked by historical prominence.

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Tina Turner
Tina Turner
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Huell Howser
Huell Howser
American television personality (1945-2013)
James M. Buchanan
James M. Buchanan
American economist, recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize for Economics (1919–2013)
Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull
American politician, U.S. Secretary of State from 1933 to 1944
Dixie Carter
Dixie Carter
American actress (1939–2010)
Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty
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Frequently asked about Bessie Smith

Who was Bessie Smith?
Bessie Smith was American blues singer (1892–1937), born in Tennessee (1894 – 1937).
When and where was Bessie Smith born?
Bessie Smith was born on 1894-04-15 in Chattanooga.
When did Bessie Smith die?
Bessie died on 1937-09-26.
What was Bessie Smith known for?
Bessie Smith is recorded as a dancer, a street artist, a mime artist, a musician and a singer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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