"Empress of the Blues" is a title often attributed to Bessie Smith, who was one of the most popular and influential female blues singers of the 1920s and 1930s. Born in 1894 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Smith's powerful voice and emotional delivery made her a major figure in the development of American blues and jazz music.

Smith began her career performing in vaudeville shows and later gained fame through her recordings with Columbia Records. Some of her most well-known songs include "Downhearted Blues," "St. Louis Blues," and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out."

Smith's impact on Black history is significant because she paved the way for future generations of African American women in the music industry. She challenged racial and gender stereotypes at a time when opportunities for Black artists were limited, and she became one of the highest-paid Black performers of her era.

Tragically, Smith's life was cut short when she died in a car accident in 1937 at the age of 43. Despite her untimely death, Bessie Smith's legacy as the "Empress of the Blues" lives on, and she continues to be celebrated as a pioneering figure in Black music history.