The Harlem Renaissance Poets and Musicians
by Samuel Black
"Bessie Smith, the greatest blues singer of all ages, was an integral part of the renaissance. She performed at the Cotton Club in Harlem and was called the “Empress of the Blues.” Her recordings over the period of 1923 to 1933 elevated her to one of the highest levels in jazz history. She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1894 and went from rags to riches. Her presence could be felt when she stepped on the stage and her six foot personality started to sing. She embarked upon her career by performing at the age of nine and often appeared with her brother, Andrew, who was a guitarist. She was mentored by Ma Rainey, who is considered to be the first woman to sing the Blues.
Bessie’s major contribution came in 1920 during the Harlem Renaissance with her recording Crazy Blues. Other smash hits of hers were, Downhearted Blues and Golf Coast Blues. These recordings helped save Columbia Records from bankruptcy because of their high record sales (Hemsworth). Bessie was considered one of the highest paid female African-American entertainers in the United States of America. Over the years she appeared at major concerts and recordings. Bessie was called from labor to reward in September 1937 as a result of an automobile accident in Mississippi. She will always be remembered as the “Empress of the Blues.”
Source: "The Harlem Renaissance Poets and Musicians." The Harlem Renaissance Poets and Musicians. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2013.
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