Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith (April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) was an African American blues singer. Nicknamed the Empress of the Blues, she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. Bessie did not have an available education because her parents had died and her elder sister was taking care of her. She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and was a major influence on fellow blues singers, as well as jazz vocalists. |
Birth and Death Data: Born April 15, 1894 (Chattanooga), Died September 26, 1937 (Clarksdale)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1933
Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer, lyricist, leader, songwriter
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 151-175 of 191 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | W146896 | 10-in. | 8/25/1928 | Please help me get him off my mind | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
| Columbia | W146897 | 10-in. | 8/25/1928 | Me and my gin | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W148485 | 10-in. | 5/8/1929 | I'm wild about that thing | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W148486 | 10-in. | 5/8/1929 | You've got to give me some | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W148487 | 10-in. | 5/8/1929 | Kitchen man | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W148533 | 10-in. | 5/15/1929 | I got what it takes (But it breaks my heart to give it away) | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W148534 | 10-in. | 5/15/1929 | Nobody knows you when you're down and out | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W148854 | 10-in. | 7/25/1929 | Take it right back ('Cause I don't want it here) | Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W148855 | 10-in. | 7/25/1929 | What makes me love you so? | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W148901 | 10-in. | 8/20/1929 | My sportin' man | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W148902 | 10-in. | 8/20/1929 | He's got me goin' | James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W148903 | 10-in. | 8/20/1929 | When my baby comes | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W148904 | 10-in. | 8/20/1929 | It makes my love come down | James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist, lyricist, composer | |
| Columbia | W149074 | 10-in. | 10/1/1929 | Wasted life blues | James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist, lyricist, composer | |
| Columbia | W149075 | 10-in. | 10/1/1929 | Dirty no-gooder's blues | James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist, composer, lyricist | |
| Columbia | W149134 | 10-in. | 10/11/1929 | Blue spirit blues | James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W149135 | 10-in. | 10/11/1929 | Worn out papa blues | James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W149136 | 10-in. | 10/11/1929 | You don't understand | James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W149137 | 10-in. | 10/11/1929 | Don't cry, baby | James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W150131 | 10-in. | 3/27/1930 | Keep it to yourself | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W150132 | 10-in. | 3/27/1930 | New Orleans hop scop blues | Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W150458 | 10-in. | 4/12/1930 | See if I'll care | Charlie Green ; Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W150459 | 10-in. | 4/12/1930 | Baby, have pity on me | Charlie Green ; Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W150574 | 10-in. | 6/9/1930 | On revival day | Bessemer Singers ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with male vocal quartet and piano | vocalist | |
| Columbia | W150575 | 10-in. | 6/9/1930 | Moan, you mourners | Bessemer Singers ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with male vocal quartet and piano | vocalist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Bessie," accessed May 21, 2022, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104231.
Smith, Bessie. (2022). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104231.
"Smith, Bessie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2022. Web. 21 May 2022.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Smith, Bessie, 1894-1937 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83071529
Wikidata: Bessie Smith - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q93349
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/24788472
MusicBrainz: Bessie Smith - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ffa28768-ecda-42c6-ac49-6ce5c7d33043
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