# data[].attributes.headline
Introduction to the Artist - Bessie Smith

# data[].attributes.subject
Introduction to the Artist - Bessie Smith

# data[].attributes.body
Biography - Born April 15, 1894, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She grew up in poverty and started street performing as a kid. She had began to succeed when her elder brother put her up to seek out for an exploring medieval performance.

Key Life Events - Her 1923 preserving of "Downhearted Blues" came ahead to become an enormous success. She has been referred to as the "Empress of the Blues," and she dominated the blues scene in the 1920s. Also performed along with, well-known jazz performers, such as Louis Armstrong. Sorrowfully losing their vie upon September 26, 1937, in a car accident.

# data[].attributes.body
Features plays:

"Downhearted Blues" https://youtu.be/4Ob_sW2_2Zw?si=YB8mGnwZEz5qIPy-

"St Louis Blues" A collaboration with Louis Armstrong, performing on stage with him leading to an enormous success.

"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" - Featuring the subjects of economic growth, loss and hardship, Bessie Smith's 1929 recording of "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" evolved into one of her most great-selling songs. It was especially applicable to the Great Depression, which began later that year.

# data[].attributes.body
Bessie Smith's tunes, which particularly highlighted Black culture, resolve, and creativeness, became an echo of the Harlem Renaissance. During this historical time, she motivated subsequent performers, contributing to raising to a legitimate art form, and remained an icon of African American dignity and expression.

Bessie's Smith songs offer speech to the African American perspective by concepts of empowerment, love, struggle, and pride in heritage. She became an essential component in the Harlem Renaissance given that she not only supplied pleasure but also advocated dignity and resiliency.

# data[].attributes.body
Bessie Smith was an example who changed music, humanity and human rights aside to serving as a blues singer. She cleared the path for future musicians and those working for equality of race by utilizing her songs to express the harsh fact of Black Life.

Quote: "It's a long old road, but I know I'm gonna find the end." From Bessie Smith.

What Bessie Smith is trying to imply in this quote is that she had the power and grit to keep going even if the struggles provoked her. She overcame those struggles to become the "Empress of the Blues."

# data[].attributes.body
Poem:

She sang with flames and grace

Gave agony a voice, let delight embrace

Her songs of brawl, warmth, and fight

Yet the moon is still bright.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Curated Playlist (Inspired by Her Themes)

"Downhearted Blues" – Bessie Smith

"Strange Fruit" – Billie Holiday

"Respect" – Aretha Franklin

"Piece of My Heart" – Janis Joplin

"Ain't Nobody’s Business If I Do" – Bessie Smith

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++