Bessie Smith is regarded as “The Empress of Blues,” and considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 1900s. She was born in 1894 Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her recording contract in 1922 with Columbia Records was a landmark for Black musicians, and she became one of the highest-paid Black performers during that time.

Throughout her life, she sang many blues songs. Her vocal style strongly influenced later jazz musicians. Known for her hugely-expressive growl, Smith continues to gain relevancy in current times. She was widely rumored to be bisexual, although no hard evidence exists. Later singers Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin considered her to to be a primary influential to their music. Smith died following complications in a car accident in 1937. Since then, many accounts of her life have been included in film, TV, and books.