Tragic Facts About Bessie Smith, The Empress Of The Blues
Singers come and go all the time, but few leave as great a mark as Bessie Smith did. Then again, few people had her brilliant, tragic life.
As one of the first Blues stars, Smith changed the course of American culture forever—but in the end, her fame came at a heartbreakingly high price. This is the unforgettable story of Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues.
Bessie Smith Facts
1. She Had Humble Beginnings
Bessie Smith was born sometime around July, 1892 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to William Urie, a Baptist preacher, and his wife Laura. Yes, this might sound like the beginnings of a rustic fairy tale, but don’t let those details fool you.
Within just a few years of her birth, little Bessie was baptized into unimaginable tragedy.
2. She Suffered an Early Tragedy
When Bessie was still just a little girl, her whole world suddenly fell apart. In less than a decade, her father, mother, and one of her brothers all passed, leaving Bessie an orphan before she even hit the tender age of 10. The remaining siblings had to raise themselves—and soon enough, Bessie was pushed into desperate measures.
3. She Fought Tooth and Nail
In order to support her failing family, Bessie quit school and started busking on the streets with her brother Andrew.
They took the White Elephant Saloon as their stomping grounds, and it was here that Bessie began to develop her signature dancing and singing while Andrew accompanied her on guitar. Only all was not well in the little brood…
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