1. Bessie Smith- (April 15th, 1894- Sept 26th 1937)
“ There aint nothin’ I can do, or nothin’ I can say, that folks don’t criticize me. But im going do just as I want anyway”

2. Introduction Known as the Empress of the Blues
Performed with Famous Jazz and blues artists such as Ma Rainy and Louis Armstrong
Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1894
Her music stands historically as the exact halfway point between black and white singing styles in the 1920s. (known as vaudeville Blues) or Classic Blues
Bessie was a woman with a huge appetite for life and was an unapologetically bisexual woman and alcoholic which influenced her music and life greatly
Was a major African American influence and has changed the lives of people as diverse as Billie Holiday to James Baldwin
Bessie smith represents the highest point reached by a African American singer in the 1920s

3. Early Life and Career Bessie Smith was born into poverty in the 1894
Started Performing on street corners and by the age of 9 made her professional debut at the Ivory theater in Chattanooga TN
Bessie was Discovered by Ma Rainy around 1912 and took her on the road performing in Olio's and small time traveling tent shows.
Bessie was signed to Columbia records in (1923)
When her first Hit “Down Hearted Blues” was released it was an immediate success selling over 2 million copies
As a result of her hit, she started touring on the best race artist vaudeville circuits booked by the Toby, or TOBA, short for Theater Owners Booking Association
Even though she was paid little for the sale of her songs and got no royalties, she still was the highest paid African American entertainer of her time

4. “Downhearted Blues” (1924)

5. Stylistic Points of Emphasis
Please notice the following :
12 bar blues form
- Breaks with the piano
Chord Changes.
The introduction of a predominately urban instrument the piano
Notice connection between the African American blues tradition and vaudeville music (style of pianist)
The Ability of Bessie’s passionate voice to overcome the primitive recording quality of the time

6. Mid/ Late Career
Bessie smith continued to record steadily throughout the decade of the 1920’s
Her summer tent show Harlem Frolics was a big success and ran during , and Mississippi Days in kept her career momentum going
However By 1929 the blues were falling out of fashion and Bessie Smith’s career was on the decline despite being at the peak of her singing powers (age 35)

7. “Nobody knows you when your down and out” (1929)

8. Stylistic Points of Emphasis
12 Bar blues form
Clarinet (classic blues instrument)
Realism and personal content of lyrics
“Bending” of voice to that enabled her to slide up and down different notes of chords
Great use of “Melisma” ( the singing of several notes on a single syllable of text)

9. Death and cultural impact
Despite the changing times and tastes Bessie smiths career was on the rise with the towards the end of her life
She died in a tragic controversial car accident in (1937)
Bessie smiths impact on American music is great with iconic artist still covering her music
She impacted many aspects of music including blues, vaudeville, jazz, gospel, musical theater and even film

10. St. Louis Blues (1929)

11. Stylistic Points of Emphasis
Call And Response pattern
Excellent Diction
Ability To improvise
Strong Sense of pitch
“Growling in voice”
Clever use of Musical dynamics
The overall power of Bessie's voice
Gospel Influence
“Lining out” of lyrics

12. Thank you for your time.
Andrew Sheldon Affleck