Bessie Smith History Alive! Performance

As the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s, Smith was the highest-paid Black performer of her day. Known as the “Empress of the Blues” by virtue of her forceful vocal delivery and command of the genre, her singing displayed a soulfully phrased, boldly delivered grasp of the blues. In addition, she was an all-around entertainer who danced, acted and performed comedy routines with her touring company. She was a staple of the “Chitlin’ Circuit” and throughout the Jim Crow South, and many of her tunes have been covered by various artists through the decades.
Listen to Bessie, portrayed by Doris Fields, speak and sing about her life and join the conversation with character and actress to learn more about this remarkable historic figure. This performance is a program of the West Virginia Humanities Council, co-hosted by the Great Bend Museum and Main Street Ripley. Admission is free