BIRTH DATE: April 15, 1894?
BIRTHPLACE: Chattanooga, Tenn.
EDUCATION: Little or none.
FAMILY BACKGROUND: Born into poverty, little is known of Bessie Smith's early life.
DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Known as the "Empress of the Blues," Bessie Smith revolutionized the vocal end of blues music in the 1920s with her rich voice and has influenced generations of musicians.
After singing with "Ma" Rainey's Rabbit Foot Minstrels traveling show for several years, Bessie Smith went solo and signed with Columbia Records. Her songs, the best known of which included "Down Hearted Blues," "Gulf Coast Blues," "Jealous Hearted Blues," and "Cold in Hand Blues," were about poverty, oppression, and unrequited love and touched the hearts of thousands. Her records sold excellently and she became a major attraction in vaudeville.
Changing tastes in music as well as alcoholism caused Bessie Smith's career to fade out by the end of the 1920s. Nevertheless, her singing talent did not diminish. From 1933 she was gradually making a comeback with a recording session and an appearance at the Apollo Theater. This was all cut short by her tragic death in an automobile accident.
DATE OF DEATH: Sept. 26, 1937, age 43? (of injuries sustained in an automobile accident).
PLACE OF DEATH: Clarksdale, Miss.
**********************************************
I've got the meanest man in the land
But his love is that sticking brand
His kiss just lingers on my lips
And thrill me to my fingertips
People say I'm a fool
He's heartless and also cruel
But outside of that, he's all right with me
Outside of that, he's sweet as he can be
I love him as true as stars above
He beats me up, but how he can love
I never loved like that since the day I was born
I said for fun, I don't want you no more
And when I said that, I made sweet papa sore
He blacked my eyes, I couldn't see
Then he pawned the things he gave to me
But outside of that, he's all right with me
I said for fun, I don't want you no more
And when I said that, I made sweet papa sore
When he pawned my things I said: you're a dirty old thief
Now, then he turned around and knocks out both of my teeth
Outside of that, he's all right with me
..oh yeah...I'm gonna put it down...after readin' a bunch of Bessie Smith I come to see that it's just puttin' the shit out there....it's meant to give em the blues...this has been one cool week thanks to Biggie T...Colo and Whit...Charlie...I'd add you but you always pass out on me...but you been real sweet too and I ain't forgettin it 
...this has been a week...I'm feelin' better...some...I've said it before .."the ole grey mare..etc...."..time to go see what's shakin' on the stream kids...later gaters.. 
