Primaryaccess.org. 24 Oct 2008 .
Bessie Smith was a talented African American blues singer. She was a rough, crude, violent woman. She was also the greatest of the classic Blues singers of the 1920s. But during her career she had her ups and downs. She was turned down by three record companies because they felt she wasn't commercial enough, but Columbia Records soon signed Bessie. Her first record "Down Hearted Blues" sold more then 2 million copies within a year. At her peak in the 1920's she earned $2,000 a week, making her the highest paid black entertainer in the country. In 1930 her career had begun to fall due to the public’s change musical taste. By 1931 the Classic Blues style of Bessie Smith was out of style. The Depression, radio, and sound movies had all damaged the record companies' ability to sell records so Columbia dropped Smith from its roster.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Eighth Annotation.
"Bessie Smith's Blues." enotes.com. American Decade. 21 Nov 2008 .
Bessie smith was known as the " Empress of the Blues". Started touring with a vaudeville show as a dancer in 1912. A protégé of legendary blues woman Ma Rainey, she eventually became the most respected African American singer and so did Bessie when her time came.
Bessie smith was known as the " Empress of the Blues". Started touring with a vaudeville show as a dancer in 1912. A protégé of legendary blues woman Ma Rainey, she eventually became the most respected African American singer and so did Bessie when her time came.
Seventh Annotation.
Forman, Roanna. "ENCYCLOPEDIA OF JAZZ MUSICIANS." Jazz.com. 20 Nov 2008 .
When Bessie's mother and father died she was left to take care of her three brothers and sisters by taking in laundry. This strong work ethic made a lasting impression on Bessie. She was determined to leave the poverty and inequality of Blue Goose Hollow, and show business was her ticket. She started street corner singing and dancing with her brother Andrew to boost the family’s income. She did an audition Stokes and later hired Bessie as a dancer, since he already had a singer Ma Rainey. During this time, she developed a reputation as a performer at black theaters across the South and along the Eastern Seaboard. Bessie was decidedly an original, and a natural singer. Bessie Smith is a soprano with a more urban, polished style. In any case Bessie undoubtedly learned how to handle herself on stage from Rainey, even though their styles were different. Things began to change after the 1920s, in 1923, Smith, then living in Philadelphia, auditioned successfully for a recording contract with Columbia and that's where her success begun.
When Bessie's mother and father died she was left to take care of her three brothers and sisters by taking in laundry. This strong work ethic made a lasting impression on Bessie. She was determined to leave the poverty and inequality of Blue Goose Hollow, and show business was her ticket. She started street corner singing and dancing with her brother Andrew to boost the family’s income. She did an audition Stokes and later hired Bessie as a dancer, since he already had a singer Ma Rainey. During this time, she developed a reputation as a performer at black theaters across the South and along the Eastern Seaboard. Bessie was decidedly an original, and a natural singer. Bessie Smith is a soprano with a more urban, polished style. In any case Bessie undoubtedly learned how to handle herself on stage from Rainey, even though their styles were different. Things began to change after the 1920s, in 1923, Smith, then living in Philadelphia, auditioned successfully for a recording contract with Columbia and that's where her success begun.
Sixth Annotation.
"Biographies Life and times of the great ones." PBS.org. 13 Nov 2008 .
Bessie Smith was the most successful black performing artist of her time. She not only sang the blues she also did acting too. Bessie began her professional career by sing in 1912. She made almost 200 recordings, of which her remarkable duets with Armstrong are among her best. Although she excelled in the performance of slow blues, she also recorded vigorous versions of jazz standards. By the 1920s, she was a leading artist in black shows on the TOBA circuit and at the 81 Theatre in Atlanta. Her first recording, Down-Hearted Blues, established her as the most successful black performing artist of her time.
Bessie Smith was the most successful black performing artist of her time. She not only sang the blues she also did acting too. Bessie began her professional career by sing in 1912. She made almost 200 recordings, of which her remarkable duets with Armstrong are among her best. Although she excelled in the performance of slow blues, she also recorded vigorous versions of jazz standards. By the 1920s, she was a leading artist in black shows on the TOBA circuit and at the 81 Theatre in Atlanta. Her first recording, Down-Hearted Blues, established her as the most successful black performing artist of her time.
Fifth Annotation.
"American Decades." enotes.com. 20 Nov 2008 .
During her lifetime the blues was regarded as a form of black expression; she performed for mostly black audiences and recorded for what were classified as race records that were not stocked in record shops catering to whites. Unlike Louis Armstrong, who reached all audiences, Smith was unknown or unavailable to most white Americans during her career. She was a black artist working with traditional black material for a black public nevertheless, Smith gave special performances for white audiences in some large cities.
During her lifetime the blues was regarded as a form of black expression; she performed for mostly black audiences and recorded for what were classified as race records that were not stocked in record shops catering to whites. Unlike Louis Armstrong, who reached all audiences, Smith was unknown or unavailable to most white Americans during her career. She was a black artist working with traditional black material for a black public nevertheless, Smith gave special performances for white audiences in some large cities.
Fourth Annotation.
"The Red Hot Jazz Archive." Bessie Smith 1. 17 Oct 2008 .
This website gives alot of information on Bessie Smith's personality. According to the website, she was a rough, crude, violent women. She was talented. She had a strong voice and she was famous and popular to both blacks and whites. Eventually people grew tired of her but she was still very popular in the south.
This website also talks about the kind of music Bessie Smith made. She was really popular in the 1920's. Some of her famous songs include "a good man is hard to find", "any woman's blues", and "baby doll."
This website gives alot of information on Bessie Smith's personality. According to the website, she was a rough, crude, violent women. She was talented. She had a strong voice and she was famous and popular to both blacks and whites. Eventually people grew tired of her but she was still very popular in the south.
This website also talks about the kind of music Bessie Smith made. She was really popular in the 1920's. Some of her famous songs include "a good man is hard to find", "any woman's blues", and "baby doll."
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