{"id":16249,"date":"2026-05-28T11:55:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T15:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/library\/?page_id=16249"},"modified":"2026-05-28T11:55:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T15:55:08","slug":"bessie-smith","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/library\/music\/exhibits\/black-music\/bessie-smith\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Music: Bessie Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Header&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#E71939&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_4,3_4&#8243; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;82%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;82%&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;5px||5px||true|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2026\/03\/QCL1-logo1-white-80h.png&#8221; alt=&#8221;Queens College Library logo white&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Queens College Library&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/library\/&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;QCL Logo&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#cccccc&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;off|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; width=&#8221;82%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;82%&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px||false|true&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;50px|50px||50px|false|true&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;10px|10px||10px|false|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px|20px||20px|false|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Bio&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||true|true&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_color_all=&#8221;#A9A9A9&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<div id=\"attachment_16222\" style=\"width: 245px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16222\" class=\"wp-image-16222 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2026\/05\/Bessie_Smith_1936_by_Carl_Van_Vechten-235x300.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photo of Bessie Smith, an African-American blues singer.\" width=\"235\" height=\"300\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-16222\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bessie Smith, a blues singer. <br \/>Photo by: Carl Van Vechten, restored by Adam Cuerden <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n<p><strong>Bessie Smith<\/strong> (April 15, 1892 \u2013 September 26, 1937) was an African-American blues singer widely renowned during the Jazz Age. Nicknamed the <strong>&#8220;Empress of the Blues&#8221;<\/strong> and formerly Queen of the Blues, she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1930s. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, she is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and was a major influence on fellow blues singers, as well as jazz vocalists.<br \/>Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Smith was young when her parents died, and she and her six siblings survived by performing on street corners. She began touring and performed in a group that included Ma Rainey and then went out on her own. Her successful recording career with Columbia Records began in 1923, but her performing career was cut short by a car crash that killed her at the age of 45.<br \/>Source: Wikipedia<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;off|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; width=&#8221;82%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;82%&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|20px||20px|true|true&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|50px||50px|true|true&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;|10px||10px|true|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;ITEMS ON DISPLAY IN THE MUSIC LIBRARY:&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||true|true&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#A9A9A9&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>ITEMS ON DISPLAY IN THE MUSIC LIBRARY:<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; width=&#8221;82%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;82%&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|50px||50px|false|true&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|50px||50px|false|true&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;|10px||10px|false|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||true|true&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#A9A9A9&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cuny-qc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com\/discovery\/fulldisplay?docid=alma9994699868406137&amp;context=L&amp;vid=01CUNY_QC:CUNY_QC&amp;lang=en&amp;search_scope=IZ_CI_AW&amp;adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&amp;tab=Everything&amp;query=any%2Ccontains%2CSmith%2C%20Bessie%2CAND&amp;facet=library%2Cinclude%2C6137%E2%80%93112060140006137&amp;mode=advanced&amp;pfilter=rtype%2Cexact%2Caudios%2CAND&amp;offset=0\">The Bessie Smith story. Volume 1 : Bessie Smith with Louis Armstrong.<\/a><br \/><\/strong>Smith, Bessie, 1894-1937, singer.; Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971, instrumentalist.; Longshaw, Fred, instrumentalist.; Johns, Irving, instrumentalist.; Williams, Clarence, 1893-1965, instrumentalist.; Robbins, Robert (Violinist), instrumentalist.; Green, Charlie, instrumentalist.<br \/>1956<br \/>LP 3295<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cuny-qc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com\/discovery\/fulldisplay?docid=alma990037572840106137&amp;context=L&amp;vid=01CUNY_QC:CUNY_QC&amp;lang=en&amp;search_scope=IZ_CI_AW&amp;adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&amp;tab=Everything&amp;query=any%2Ccontains%2CSmith%2C%20Bessie%2CAND&amp;facet=library%2Cinclude%2C6137%E2%80%93112060140006137&amp;mode=advanced&amp;pfilter=rtype%2Cexact%2Caudios%2CAND&amp;offset=0\"><strong>Any woman&#8217;s blues<\/strong> <\/a><br \/>Smith, Bessie, 1894-1937.<br \/>1970<br \/>LP 4746<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cuny-qc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com\/discovery\/fulldisplay?docid=alma990020980660106137&amp;context=L&amp;vid=01CUNY_QC:CUNY_QC&amp;lang=en&amp;search_scope=IZ_CI_AW&amp;adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&amp;tab=Everything&amp;query=any%2Ccontains%2CSmith%2C%20Bessie%2CAND&amp;facet=library%2Cinclude%2C6137%E2%80%93112060140006137&amp;mode=advanced&amp;pfilter=rtype%2Cexact%2Caudios%2CAND&amp;offset=0\">Empty bed blues <\/a><\/strong><br \/>Smith, Bessie, 1894-1937.; Green, Charlie.; Henderson, Fletcher, 1897-1952.; Grainger, Porter.<br \/>1971<br \/>LP 7489<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||true|true&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#A9A9A9&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cuny-qc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com\/discovery\/fulldisplay?docid=alma990017704960106137&amp;context=L&amp;vid=01CUNY_QC:CUNY_QC&amp;lang=en&amp;search_scope=IZ_CI_AW&amp;adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&amp;tab=Everything&amp;query=any%2Ccontains%2CSmith%2C%20Bessie%2CAND&amp;facet=library%2Cinclude%2C6137%E2%80%93112060140006137&amp;mode=advanced&amp;pfilter=rtype%2Cexact%2Cbooks%2CAND&amp;offset=0\">Bessie <\/a><br \/><\/strong>Albertson, Chris.<br \/>1972<br \/>ML420 .S667 A7<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cuny-qc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com\/discovery\/fulldisplay?docid=alma990064693400106137&amp;context=L&amp;vid=01CUNY_QC:CUNY_QC&amp;lang=en&amp;search_scope=IZ_CI_AW&amp;adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&amp;tab=Everything&amp;query=any%2Ccontains%2CSmith%2C%20Bessie%2CAND&amp;facet=library%2Cinclude%2C6137%E2%80%93112060140006137&amp;mode=advanced&amp;pfilter=rtype%2Cexact%2Cbooks%2CAND&amp;offset=0\"><strong>Blues empress in black Chattanooga : Bessie Smith and the emerging urban South<\/strong> <\/a><br \/>Scott, Michelle R., 1974-<br \/>\u00a92008<br \/>ML420 .S667 S36 2008<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; width=&#8221;82%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;82%&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|20px||20px|true|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;ADDITIONAL LIBRARY RESOURCES&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||true|true&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#A9A9A9&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>ADDITIONAL LIBRARY RESOURCES:<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; width=&#8221;82%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;82%&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|50px||50px|false|true&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|50px||50px|false|true&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;|10px||10px|false|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||true|true&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#A9A9A9&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cuny-qc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com\/discovery\/fulldisplay?docid=alma990019134660106137&amp;context=L&amp;vid=01CUNY_QC:CUNY_QC&amp;lang=en&amp;search_scope=IZ_CI_AW&amp;adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&amp;tab=Everything&amp;query=any%2Ccontains%2CSmith%2C%20Bessie%2CAND&amp;facet=library%2Cinclude%2C6137%E2%80%93112060140006137&amp;mode=advanced&amp;pfilter=rtype%2Cexact%2Cbooks%2CAND&amp;offset=0\"><strong>The Bessie Smith companion : a critical and detailed appreciation of the recordings<\/strong> <\/a><br \/>Brooks, Edward, 1929- author.; Melly, George, 1926-2007, writer of foreword.<br \/>1982<br \/>ML420 .S667 B7<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cuny-qc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com\/discovery\/fulldisplay?docid=alma990017704980106137&amp;context=L&amp;vid=01CUNY_QC:CUNY_QC&amp;lang=en&amp;search_scope=IZ_CI_AW&amp;adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&amp;tab=Everything&amp;query=any%2Ccontains%2CSmith%2C%20Bessie%2CAND&amp;facet=library%2Cinclude%2C6137%E2%80%93112060140006137&amp;mode=advanced&amp;pfilter=rtype%2Cexact%2Cbooks%2CAND&amp;offset=0\"><strong>Bessie Smith<\/strong> <\/a><br \/>Oliver, Paul, 1927-2017.<br \/>1961<br \/>ML420 .S667 O4 1961<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||true|true&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#A9A9A9&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cuny-qc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com\/discovery\/fulldisplay?docid=alma990017704960106137&amp;context=L&amp;vid=01CUNY_QC:CUNY_QC&amp;lang=en&amp;search_scope=IZ_CI_AW&amp;adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&amp;tab=Everything&amp;query=any%2Ccontains%2CSmith%2C%20Bessie%2CAND&amp;facet=library%2Cinclude%2C6137%E2%80%93112060140006137&amp;mode=advanced&amp;pfilter=rtype%2Cexact%2Cbooks%2CAND&amp;offset=0\"><strong>Bessie<\/strong> <\/a><br \/>Albertson, Chris.<br \/>1972<br \/>ML420 .S667 A7<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/qc-cuny.libguides.com\/az\/naxos-music-library\">Naxos Music Library<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/qc-cuny.libguides.com\/az\/oxford-music-online\">Oxford Music Online<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; width=&#8221;82%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;82%&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|20px||20px|true|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;NON-LIBRARY RESOURCES&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||true|true&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_color_all=&#8221;#A9A9A9&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2>NON-LIBRARY RESOURCES:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalbluesmuseum.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The National Blues Museum<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blues.org\/hall-of-fame-museum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Blues Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jmih.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The National Jazz Museum in Harlem<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rockhall.com\/inductees\/bessie-smith\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2018\/01\/05\/575422226\/forebears-bessie-smith-the-empress-of-the-blues\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forebears: Bessie Smith, The Empress Of The Blues<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; width=&#8221;82%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;82%&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|30px||30px|false|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/library\/music\/exhibits\/black-music\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;Black Music Exhibit&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; 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_builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;15px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#E71939&#8243; button_border_radius=&#8221;10px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Open Sans|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#xf060;||fa||900&#8243; button_icon_placement=&#8221;left&#8221; button_on_hover=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;text-decoration: none;&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; button_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|hover&#8221; button_text_color__hover=&#8221;#E71939&#8243; button_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|hover&#8221; button_bg_color__hover=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_enable_color__hover=&#8221;on&#8221; button_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|hover&#8221; button_border_color__hover=&#8221;#E71939&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bessie Smith (April 15, 1892 \u2013 September 26, 1937) was an African-American blues singer widely renowned during the Jazz Age. 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