Bessie Smith was a legendary Blues singer who became known as the "Empress of the Blues." She was born in 1894 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and rose to fame during the 1920s and 1930s. Bessie Smith's powerful, emotive voice and bold personality made her one of the most successful and influential Blues artists of her time.

Smith's music addressed themes of love, loss, and the struggles of African Americans during the Jim Crow era. Some of her most famous recordings include "Downhearted Blues," "St. Louis Blues," and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out."

Bessie Smith faced discrimination and racism throughout her career but persevered to become one of the highest-paid Black performers of her time. She paved the way for future generations of African American women in the music industry.

Tragically, Bessie Smith's life was cut short in a car accident in 1937. Despite her untimely death, her legacy lives on as a trailblazer in Black music history.