# Bessie Smith

> American blues singer (1892–1937)

**Wikidata**: [Q93349](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q93349)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Smith)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bessie-smith

## Summary
Bessie Smith was an American blues singer and musician whose career spanned from 1912 to 1937. Often referred to as "The Empress of the Blues," she was a prominent figure in the classic female blues genre and a recording artist for Columbia Records. Her legacy is marked by posthumous inductions into the National Women's Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

## Biography
- **Born:** April 15, 1894
- **Died:** September 26, 1937
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** Not available in source material
- **Known for:** Singing blues, jazz, and classic female blues; known as "The Empress of the Blues"
- **Employer(s):** Columbia Records
- **Field(s):** Music (Blues, Jazz, Classic Female Blues)
- **Occupations:** Singer, Musician, Dancer, Street Artist, Mime Artist

## Contributions
Bessie Smith contributed to the American music landscape through her performance and recording career from 1912 to 1937. She was a key practitioner of the blues, a vocal and instrumental music form that originated around 1890, and jazz, a musical style that emerged around 1917. Specifically, she contributed to the "classic female blues" genre, which began in 1914. Her work was released under Columbia Records, an American label founded in 1889. Her career established a significant body of work that led to her recognition as a major influence in music history.

## FAQs
**What were Bessie Smith's primary occupations?**
Bessie Smith was a singer and musician, but she was also defined by her work as a dancer, street artist, and mime artist.

**What record label was Bessie Smith associated with?**
She was associated with Columbia Records, an American record label owned by Sony that was founded in 1889.

**What awards did Bessie Smith receive?**
She received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into both the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

**What is Bessie Smith best known for?**
She is best known as "The Empress of the Blues" and for her contributions to the classic female blues, jazz, and blues genres during the early 20th century.

**When did Bessie Smith live and work?**
She was born on April 15, 1894, and died on September 26, 1937. Her professional work period spanned from 1912 to 1937.

## Why They Matter
Bessie Smith matters as a foundational figure in the history of American music, specifically within the blues and jazz genres. As a leading exponent of the classic female blues style, she helped popularize these musical forms during the early 20th century. Her association with Columbia Records connected her work to one of the oldest and most prestigious labels in the industry. Her enduring influence is evidenced by her posthumous recognition in major institutions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Women's Hall of Fame, cementing her status as a pioneering female artist.

## Notable For
- **Nickname:** Known as "The Empress of the Blues" and "Empress of the Blues."
- **Career Span:** Active professional work period from 1912 to 1937.
- **Genres:** Pivotal contributor to the blues, jazz, and classic female blues genres.
- **Record Label:** Signed to Columbia Records, a historic American label.
- **Awards:** Recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
- **Halls of Fame:** Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- **Occupations:** Diverse career as a singer, musician, dancer, street artist, and mime artist.

## Body
### Identity and Citizenship
Bessie Smith was a human and a citizen of the United States, a sovereign federal republic located primarily in North America. As an American artist, she operated within the cultural context of a country recognized as a global superpower with a diverse demographic profile.

### Career and Occupations
Smith's professional work period began in 1912 and concluded in 1937. She was classified under multiple occupational categories, including singer, musician, dancer, street artist, and mime artist. As a singer, she performed for a listening audience, while her role as a musician involved composing, conducting, or performing music. Her work as a street artist involved performing in public places for gratuities, and as a mime artist, she utilized mime as a theatrical medium or in performance art.

### Musical Genres and Style
Smith's musical output was defined by three primary genres: blues, jazz, and classic female blues. The blues is a vocal and instrumental music form with an inception date circa 1890. Jazz is a musical style and genre that emerged around 1917. Classic female blues, the genre most closely associated with her specific style, is a music genre that began in 1914. Her work in these areas established her as a significant figure in the early development of these American musical traditions.

### Professional Affiliations
She was affiliated with Columbia Records, an American record label owned by Sony. Columbia Records was founded on January 15, 1889, by David M. Levy and is headquartered in New York City. The label is known for its prestige and history of signing legendary artists across genres such as pop, rock, jazz, classical, country, and hip-hop. Smith's association with this label placed her within a roster of historically significant musicians.

### Recognition and Legacy
Following her death on September 26, 1937, Bessie Smith received numerous accolades recognizing her impact on music and culture. She was a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor instituted in 1962. She was further honored by inductions into the National Women's Hall of Fame, an American institution created in 1969, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a music museum in Cleveland, Ohio, established in 1983. These honors reflect her enduring influence and status as a pioneering artist in American music history.

## References

1. Catalog of the German National Library
2. Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians
3. Library of Congress Authorities
4. BnF authorities
5. Integrated Authority File
6. [Source](http://www.thisisbiscuit.co.uk/bessie-smith-bisexual-icon/)
7. [Source](https://www.autostraddle.com/rebel-girls-bessie-smith-was-a-queer-pioneer-and-were-finally-gonna-get-to-talk-about-it-283712/)
8. Find a Grave
9. [Source](https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/bessie-smith)
10. [Source](https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/bessie-smith/)
11. Notable Black American Women
12. BlackPast.org
13. MusicBrainz
14. CiNii Research
15. SNAC
16. Internet Broadway Database
17. FemBio database
18. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
19. Great Norwegian Encyclopedia
20. filmportal.de
21. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
22. Virtual International Authority File
23. CONOR.SI
24. BBC Things
25. Quora
26. LIBRIS. 2018