Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith was born into extreme poverty in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Orphaned as a child, she began singing on street corners for change. She was mentored by Ma Rainey and by the 1920s had become the highest-paid Black entertainer in America.

Her voice — raw, powerful, and deeply emotional — defined the blues and influenced virtually every form of American popular music that followed. Her 1923 debut recording, "Down Hearted Blues," sold over 750,000 copies in its first six months.

Smith recorded over 150 songs and commanded audiences across the country. She was open about her bisexuality at a time when such honesty was rare and dangerous. Though her career declined during the Great Depression, her influence on Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin, and countless others ensured her legacy would endure far beyond her tragically short life.