Today In Black History
Bessie Smith, Blues Pioneer: Black History Facts You Should Know!
Issue #438 Black History Thursday, December 14, 2023
Welcome to this Today in Black History post. Black History IS American History, no matter how hard some people try to erase our history and contributions.
A lot of this information is available at yenoba.com, blackfacts.com, and onthisday.com.
This post is free to read/listen to free for three days. To have 365 24/7 access to all our posts and podcast episodes and financially support “We Are Speaking” for no more than $5 per month, please subscribe at the paid level.
Today’s Black WOW!
Bessie Smith, born on April 15, 1894, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was a trailblazer in the blues music genre. Bessie Smith became one of the most influential and successful blues singers of the early 20th century.
In 1912, Smith's big break came when she joined the prestigious Moses Stokes Company, a traveling ensemble that performed vaudeville shows across the United States. It was during her time with the company that Smith's powerful voice and commanding stage presence caught the attention of Clarence Williams, a talent scout for Columbia Records.
Signing with Columbia Records in 1923, Bessie Smith quickly rose to fame with her first recording, "Downhearted Blues," which sold an astonishing 800,000 copies within six months.
Smith's recordings were a mix of classic blues tunes, jazz-inspired numbers, and even a touch of vaudeville. Her music spoke to the hardships faced by African Americans in the early 20th century, and she became a voice for the marginalized and oppressed.
Smith's popularity contributed to the emergence of "race records," a term used to describe recordings marketed specifically to African-American audiences. This shift in the industry allowed more diverse voices to be heard and contributed to the eventual integration of the music industry.
Unfortunately, Bessie Smith's life was cut short in 1937 when she died at the age of 43 in a car accident.
Today In Black History
- In 1799, 1st U.S. President George Washington died and stipulated in his will that all of his slaves would be freed upon the death of his wife, Martha Washington.
Let’s discuss these facts in our community on Substack Notes. You can also read other Substack publications without subscribing to them when you join Notes.