Bessie Smith
American blues singer (1892-1937) · United States · On the map · Musicians · Lived 1894 to 1937 · aged 43
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.
Bessie Smith is read about 591 times a day, in 52 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 104 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
2023National Women's Hall of FameAward1989Grammy Lifetime Achievement AwardAwardRock and Roll Hall of FameAward1937Died26 September 19371894Born15 April 1894
People around Bessie
Close ties
Ma Rainey Influenced Bessie
W. C. Handy Produced St. Louis Blues (1929)
Louis Armstrong Duets: After You've Gone (1918)
Sophie Tucker Duets: After You've Gone (1918)
John Hammond Produced Gimme a Pigfoot (1933)
Clarence Williams Duets: Baby Won't You Please Come Home (1919)
Marion Harris Duets: After You've Gone (1918)
Henry Burr Duets: After You've Gone (1918)
Dudley Murphy Directed St. Louis Blues (1929)
Media & music
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Awards
About this person
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.
Country
United States
Category
Musicians
Type
Singer / Musician
Status
Deceased
Dates
Lived 1894 to 1937 · aged 43
