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AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM
EMPRESS OF THE BLUES: BESSIE SMITH
Bessie Smith was called the Empress of the Blues, but she was also the highest paid African American entertainer of her generation. We’ll explore the life and times of Bessie Smith from her early days performing on Chattanooga street corners and her travels on the TOBA circuit to her decade as a top selling recording artist. Then, a conversation with Annika Chambers, a 21st Century blues woman and classic Bessie Smith songs by Dinah Washington, Nina Simone and Alberta Hunter.
photo: Bessie Smith holding feathers by Carl Van Vechten, February 3, 1936.
HOUR ONE
- Open Bed: Baby Won't You Please Come Home Bessie Smith
The Best of Bessie Smith, The Best of Bessie Smith - See See Rider Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey, Fantasy - Don't Fish in My Sea Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey, Vol. 4: 1926-1927, Document - After You've Gone Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3, Sony - I Wanna Hot Dog for My Roll Butterbeans and Susie
Stars of the Apollo, Columbia - There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight Bessie Smith
The Essential Bessie Smith, Sony - Instrumental: State Street Rag Louie Bluie and Ted Bogan
That Devlin' Tune: A Jazz History: 1895-1950, West Hill Radio Archive - Put Me in the Alley Blues Albert Nicholas and Johnny St. Cyr
Really the Blues?: A Blues History, Vol. 1: 1893-1929, West Hill Radio Archives - Me and My Gin Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4, Sony - Crazy Blues Mamie Smith and her Jazz Hounds
Crazy Blues: The Best of Mamie Smith, Sony - Cotton Belt Blues Lizzie Miles
Lizzie Miles, Vol. 2: 1923-1928, Document - Downhearted Blues Bessie Smith
The Essential Bessie Smith, Sony - Pinch Back Blues Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1, Sony - St. Louis Blues Bessie Smith
Louis Armstrong Voice of America radio program, 1956, University of North Texas Music Library Archive - Instrumental: St. Louis Blues Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong Play W.C. Handy, Sony - Backwater Blues Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3, Sony - Work House Blues Bessie Smith
Ralph Ellison: Living with Music, Sony - Lock and Key Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3, Sony - Gimme A Pig Foot and a Bottle of Beer Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 5: The Final Chapter, Sony - My Last Affair Billie Holiday
Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia: 1933-1944, Sony - End Bed: St. Louis Blues Art Tatum
Piano Starts Here, Sony
HOUR two
- Open Bed: Do Your Duty Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 5: The Final Chapter, Sony - Your Mother's Son in Law Billie Holiday
Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia, Vol. 1, Sony - Give Me a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer Billie Holiday
The Complete Decca Recordings, GRP - I'm Mixed Up Koko Taylor
What It Takes/The Chess Years, Chess - Preachin' the Blues LaVern Baker
LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith, Atlantic - Instrumental: Backwater Blues BB King
One Kind Favor, Geffen - In the Beautiful Tomorrow Mahalia Jackson
The Original Apollo Sessions, Couch & Madison - On Revival Day (A Rhythmic Spiritual) Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4, Sony - Sugar in My Bowl Nina Simone
Essential Women in Blues, Platinum - After You've Gone Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington Sings Bessie Smith, Verve - Kitchen Man Catherine Russell
Sentimental Streak, World Village - Instrumental: I Just Wanna Make Love to You Annika Chambers
American Routes original recording at the 2018 Montana Folk Festival, - SEGMENT: Annika Chambers
Listen - Backwater Blues Irma Thomas
Our New Orleans, Nonesuch - End Bed: Basin Street Blues Henry Butler
American Routes original recording,
