Libby Stamper and Tony Smith announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Taylor Smith, to Grant Burke. In February 1923 she made her first recordings, including the classic “Down Hearted Blues,” which became an enormous success, selling more than two million copies. With her rich, powerful voice, Smith soon became a successful recording artist and toured extensively. Around 1906 her mother and two of her brothers died and Smith and her remaining siblings were raised by their aunt. Bessie Smith est la fille de William et Laura Smith [1], une famille pauvre, qui habite le quartier Blue Goose Hollow, au pied de la Cameron Hill de Chattanooga [2]. Among them was a track titled "Downhearted Blues," which was wildly popular and sold an estimated 800,000 copies, propelling Smith into the blues spotlight. Known as the ‘Empress of the Blues,’ she was a bold, supremely confident artist who sang with breathtaking emotional intensity on such songs as ‘Down Hearted Blues,’ ‘Empty Bed Blues,’ and … The Channel 4 star, often seen on the show with sister Ellie, shared an adorable snap of … Corrections? Bessie Abott (1878-1919), American operatic soprano; Bessie Barriscale (1884–1965), stage name of American silent-film and stage actress Elizabeth Barry Scale Her gradually increasing alcoholism caused managements to become wary of engaging her, but there is no evidence that her actual singing ability ever declined. Bessie is an HBO TV film about the American blues singer Bessie Smith, and focuses on her transformation as a struggling young singer into "The Empress of the Blues".The film is directed by Dee Rees, with a screenplay by Rees, Christopher Cleveland and Bettina Gilois. Known in her lifetime as the “Empress of the Blues,” Smith was a bold, supremely confident artist who often disdained the use of a microphone and whose art expressed the frustrations and hopes of a whole generation of Black Americans. Darrell Ray Smith, age 61, of Higbee, suddenly passed away at home on February 6, 2021. Bessie Smith began to sing at a young age and in 1923 signed a contract with Columbia Records. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Maggie Smith is a British actress best known for her Academy Award-winning performance in 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,' as well as her role in the Harry Potter series and 'Downton Abbey. It was said that, had she been white, she would have received medical treatment that would have saved her life, and Edward Albee made this the subject of his play The Death of Bessie Smith (1960). By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Smith grew up in poverty and obscurity. With Johnson, she recorded one of her most famous songs, "Backwater Blues. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bessie-Smith, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Biography of Bessie Smith, All About Jazz - Biography of Bessie Smith, BlackPast.org - Biography of Bessie Smith, Bessie Smith - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Since her death, Smith’s music continues to win over new fans, and collections of her songs have continued to sell extremely well over the years. She was a homemaker but had also catered weddings and special events with Nadean Lairsey and then later with Rick McCallister. Mrs. HuVetta Thompson Smith, age 72, of Lumberton, NC, went peacefully to meet her Lord and Savior and to be with her infant daughter, Tanya Evett, on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. In 1929, she and Gee permanently separated, and by the end of 1931 Smith had stopped working with Columbia altogether. Bessie Smith, American singer, one of the greatest blues vocalists. Going forward with an idea presented by her brother and business manager Clarence, Smith eventually bought a custom railroad car for her traveling troupe to travel and sleep in. Their first son Chris (left) was born in 1967 and their second, Toby, was born two … She was buried in Mount Lawn Cemetery in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. Miss Smith … In 1912 Smith began performing as a dancer in the Moses Stokes minstrel show, and soon thereafter in the Rabbit Foot Minstrels, of which blues vocalist Ma Rainey was a member. After 1920 she made her home in Philadelphia, and it was there that she was first heard by Clarence Williams, a representative of Columbia Records. Soon she was among the highest-paid Black performers of her time with hits like "Downhearted Blues." Soon she was among the highest-paid Black performers of her … Her father, a Baptist minister, died soon after her birth, leaving her mother to raise her and her siblings. Smith's version of the song, released in September 1929, was eerily prescient in that the stock market crashed just two weeks later. After their first retirement they would go on to work with their son… While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In the late 1920s her record sales and her fame diminished with the Great Depression and as social forces changed the face of popular music and bowdlerized the earthy realism of the sentiments she expressed in her music. Zion Baptist Church #1 Cemetery in Twiggs County. Updates? Billie Holiday was one of the most influential jazz singers of all time. About 1913 Smith toured with Ma Rainey, one of the first of the great blues singers, and afterward traveled through the South singing in tent shows and bars and theatres. The true story confirms that Bessie's mother, Laura Smith, died when Bessie was eight or nine. She appeared in a short motion picture, St. Louis Blues (1929), since 2006 preserved in the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress. Bessie Smith began to sing at a young age and in 1923 signed a contract with Columbia Records. Her comeback and life were cut short when she died on September 26, 1937, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident outside of Clarksdale, Mississippi. Yes. About 1913 she toured in a show with Ma Rainey, one of the first of the great blues singers, from whom she received some training. However, at the height of her success, Smith’s career began to flounder, due in part to the financial ravages of the Great Depression and a change in cultural mores. He is the son of Scott and Marie Burke. John Smith was a British soldier who was a founder of the American colony of Jamestown in the early 1600s. Perhaps Smith's most popular song was her 1929 hit "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out," written by Jimmy Cox six years earlier. That same year, she was discovered by a representative from Columbia Records, with whom she signed a contract and made her first song recordings. Maggie Smith Dame Maggie Smith has two sons from her first marriage to actor Sir Robert Stephens. Wednesday, January 13th 2021 ... Whitfield Co. Republican, father of son with DS confronts Rep. Greene over offensive word. By the end of the 1920s, Smith was the highest-paid Black performer of her day, and had earned herself the title "Empress of the Blues.". Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Schmidt, Max, 1874-1950. However, ever the dedicated performer, Smith adapted her repertoire and continued to tour. She died of her wounds in a Clarkdale, Mississippi hospital. She was known for her rich contralto voice and her breathtaking emotional intensity. She was one of seven children. She died from injuries sustained in a road accident. HuVetta worked in … We strive for accuracy and fairness. Omissions? Find products, recipe ideas and more here. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. (German) (as Author) Schmidt, Otto Ernst, 1862-1926. Born in Moultrie, October 17, 1948, she had lived in Pierce County for over 40 years. Jazz and blues vocalist Bessie Smith's powerful, soulful voice won her countless fans and earned her the title "Empress of the Blues.". Notable people with the name include: People. She had a thriving career for many years before she lost her battle with addiction. ", Smith also collaborated with the legendary jazz artist Louis Armstrong on several tunes, including "Cold in Hand Blues" and "I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle," and "St. Louis Blues." By the early 1920s, Smith had settled down and was living in Philadelphia, and in 1923 she met and married a man named Jack Gee. The Breakthrough true story reveals that the temperature had risen to close to 60 degrees that day and the ice on Lake Sainte Louise (near St. Louis, Missouri) had started to melt. Rainey took Smith under her wing, and over the next decade, Smith continued to perform at various theaters and on the vaudeville circuit. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Bessie Smith Cultural Center undergoing renovations . Band (von 8) (German) (as Author) Das Glück ist immer da! Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. She may have made a first public appearance at the age of eight or nine at the Ivory Theatre in her hometown. It is sometimes a name in its own right. Her father, William Smith, had died when she was a baby. A film loosely based on the book aired in 2015, with Queen Latifah (who also executive produced the project) portraying Smith and Mo'Nique playing Ma Rainey. The film, based on the lyrics of the song, which Smith sings, is the only known footage of the singer and shows the emotional power of her performance. Her biggest hit is the single "Because the Night.". In her recording career, Smith worked with many important jazz performers, such as saxophonist Sidney Bechet and pianists Fletcher Henderson and James P. Johnson. But as her and Gee's relationship became strained, Gee would use their son as a bargaining chip, eventually kidnapping him and accusing Smith of being a neglectful, incompetent mother. "We could still step on it, but it was startin' to give way and water was going on top of it," recalled John. Ella Fitzgerald, known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an immensely popular American jazz and song vocalist who interpreted much of the Great American Songbook. Susan Smith is best known for her murder of her two sons in order to carry on a relationship with a wealthy man. Bessie Mae Pearson January 12, 1957 - February 6, 2021 Macon, Georgia - Graveside Services will be held on Friday, February 12, 2021 at 2:00PM at Mt. Patti Smith is a highly influential figure in the New York City punk rock scene, starting with her 1975 album 'Horses.' The song would later become the basis of a short film by the same name. Moving to Syracuse as a teenager, Peggy graduated from Nottingham High School and met the love of her life, Paul Joslyn. Smith was thrown from the vehicle and badly injured. Bessie Smith was one of the greatest blues vocalists ever. East Hodgdon - (Earl) Linwood Smith, 88, passed from these shadowlands to real life on Jan. 7, 2021, confident that the One in whose hands he had placed his life here on earth is the same One with whom he will spend eternity. Take advantage of our Presidents' Day bonus! Bessie Smith, in full Elizabeth Smith, (born April 15, 1894?, Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.—died September 26, 1937, Clarksdale, Mississippi), American singer, one of the greatest blues vocalists. She has been a primary influence for countless female vocalists — including Billie Holliday, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin — and has been immortalized in numerous works. Peggy was born January 8, 1935 in Muskegon, MI to Percy Smith and Bessie Hansel Smith. https://www.biography.com/musician/bessie-smith. A comprehensive, acclaimed bio on her life — Bessie, by journalist Chris Albertson — was published in 1972 and expanded in 2003. Anna Nicole Smith gained early fame as a model for Guess and 'Playboy' magazine, and later became known for her marriage to 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II. In 1933, Smith was contacted by producer John Hammond to make new recordings, which hinted at the coming Swing Era. Jaden Smith is an actor best known for his starring role in the remake of The Karate Kid, and as the son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith. Like in the movie, her oldest sister, Viola, assumed the responsibility of raising her and her four other siblings: Andrew, Lulu, Tinnie, and Clarence. Bessie Mae Grantham Johnson, 72, of Blackshear, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2021, at the Hospice Satilla Hospice House in Waycross. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. Browse Artists Alphabetically Artist Names Beginning Complete List A-Z : Maria A'Becket - American Painter Hans von Aachen - German Painter Alvar Aalto - Finnish Architect Magdalena Abakanowicz - Polish Sculptor Masseot Abaquesne - French Potter Riza-i Abbasi - Persian Painter Louise Abbema - French Painter Edwin Austin Abbey - American Illustrator/Muralist Berenice Abbott - American … Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. It was around this time that Smith began to perform as a street singer, accompanied on the guitar by one of her younger brothers. A court ruling first gave custody to Smith's sister Viola, then later to Jack Jr.'s biological father who neglected the boy and sometimes forgot to feed him. Ernst, Otto; de.wikipedia; Deutsche Humoristen, 3. by Greg Funderburg. She made 160 recordings in all, in many of which she was accompanied by some of the great jazz musicians of the 1920s and ’30s, including Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, and Louis Armstrong. She was converted and baptized at an early age. She was known for her rich contralto voice and her breathtaking emotional intensity. By the end of the 1920s, however, her popularity had lessened, though she continued to perform and made new recordings at the start of the Swing Era. Known in her lifetime as the “Empress of the Blues,” Smith was a bold, supremely confident artist who often disdained the use of a microphone and whose art expressed the frustrations and hopes of a whole generation of black Americans. In February 1923 Smith made her first recordings, including the classic “Down Hearted Blues,” which became an enormous success, selling more than two million copies. Peggy grew up in a loving home with her parents and brother, David, with life centered around church. Bessie is a feminine given name, often a diminutive form of Elizabeth, Beatrice and other names since the 16th century. Smith was born on April 15, 1894, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Queen Latifah stars as Smith, and supporting roles are played by Michael Kenneth Williams as Smith's first husband Jack … Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. She was born in Robeson County, NC to the late Dewey Nettie Thompson. Family favourites for over 60 years, Birds Eye have provided healthy fresh frozen food for generations. For several years Smith traveled through the South singing in tent shows and bars and theatres in small towns and in such cities as Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis, Tennessee; and Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia. Dritte Auflage. Gogglebox star Izzi Warner celebrated her daughter Bessie's first birthday on Wednesday. Smith’s funeral was held in Philadelphia a week later, with thousands coming to pay their respects. Smith’s subject matter was the classic material of the blues: poverty and oppression, love—betrayed or unrequited—and stoic acceptance of defeat at the hands of a cruel and indifferent world. She made 160 recordings in all, in many of which she was accompanied by some of the great jazz musicians of the time, including Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, and Louis Armstrong. Bessie was a Den Mother with the Boy Scouts and was very proud that her two sons became Eagle Scouts. She was 43. ', British singer Sam Smith won four Grammy Awards with their 2014 debut album ‘In the Lonely Hour.’. Willie Ann Smith ADEL, Iowa — Willie Ann Smith was born Sept. 30, 1933, to Will Rush Sr. and Lela Mae Rush. See: Smith, John, 1580-1631. The three boys cracked the ice before stepping on it to see if it was thick enough to walk on. Except for his first couple of years, he grew up in East Hodgdon, … During her marriage to Gee, Smith informally adopted a six-year-old boy and named him Jack Jr. She was inducted into both the Blues Hall of Fame (1980), in its inaugural class, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1989). Die Aquarell-Malerei Bemerkungen über die Technik derselben in ihrer Anwendung auf die Landschafts-Malerei. Her most notable songs included “Tain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do,” “Careless Love Blues,” “Empty Bed Blues,” “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out,” and “Gimme a Pigfoot.”. Darrell was born on May 24, 1959, the son of William and Shirley Smith. Katherine H. Smith Katherine H. Smith, age 84 of Midland, passed away Friday, February 5, 2021 at MediLodge in Clare. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Bessie Smith, photograph by Carl Van Vechten, 1936. Linwood was born July 14, 1932, in Old Town, Maine, to Harold V. Smith and Bessie M. (Turney). The great tragedy of her career was that she outlived the topicality of her idiom.