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Bessie Smith
Artist profile

Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1894 and started singing in local tent shows. In the 1920s, she recorded for Columbia Records, where songs...

album93 lyric pages photo_library2 photos groups9 listeners here now Editor's note live
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
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The pages that open this catalog up fastest

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Beale Street Mama Video on page · 3 visits arrow_forward A Good Man Is Hard To Find Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward After You've Gone Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward Aggravatin' Papa Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward Any Woman's Blues Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward At The Christmas Ball Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward
Editor's note

Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues

Her direct voice carried songs about everyday troubles with weary authority.

For a quick sense of her style, try 'A Good Man Is Hard To Find' or 'Beale Street Mama'. They frame that weary authority pretty well.

Smith recorded for Columbia in the 1920s, and songs like 'A Good Man Is Hard To Find' show how she handled blues material. Later singers like Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin mentioned her influence. Her voice had that plainspoken quality that made the stories feel lived-in.

She started singing in local tent shows in Chattanooga. In the 1920s, she recorded for Columbia, working with musicians like Louis Armstrong and Fletcher Henderson. Her personal life included a marriage to gambler Jack Gee, and she died in 1937 after a car accident.

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 20
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LyroVerse editor's notes are short interpretation guides, not final verdicts. If something needs a correction, visit About or Contact.

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93 lyric pages live 2 photos available Editor's note live Video on page
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Bessie Smith Bessie Smith
Background notes

Archive material and source history

Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1894 and started singing in local tent shows. In the 1920s, she recorded for Columbia Records, where songs like 'Downhearted Blues' and 'Baby Won't You Please Come Home' became popular. She worked with musicians including Louis Armstrong and Fletcher Henderson.

Her voice had a direct quality that carried through songs about everyday troubles. 'Mean Old Bed Bug Blues' and 'A Good Man Is Hard To Find' show how she handled blues material with a kind of weary authority. She was sometimes called the Empress of the Blues.

Smith's personal life included a marriage to Jack Gee, a gambler and bootlegger, which led to some public attention. She died in 1937 after a car accident. Later singers like Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin mentioned her influence.

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Where should I start with Bessie Smith on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with Beale Street Mama, A Good Man Is Hard To Find, and After You've Gone so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for Bessie Smith?

LyroVerse currently has 93 visible lyric pages for Bessie Smith.

Does Bessie Smith have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 2 photos available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for Bessie Smith?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

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