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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, Sony - See See Rider Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey, Fantasy - Clip: Archie Martin
- 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 - Clip: Worthia "Showboy" Thomas
- 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 Archives - 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 - Clip: Albert Nicholas
- 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 - Clip: Jerry Zolten
- Clip: Lizzie Miles
- Cotton Belt Blues Lizzie Miles
Lizzie Miles, Vol. 2: 1923-1928, Document - Downhearted Blues Bessie Smith
The Essential Bessie Smith , Sony - Clip: Maureen Mahon on Bessie Smith's Pinch Back Blues
- Pinch Back Blues Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1, Sony - Clip: Louis Armstrong talking about Bessie Smith for the Voice of America, 1956
- 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 Plays W. C. Handy, Sony - Clip: Maureen Mahon on Bessie Smith's Backwater Blues
- Backwater Blues Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3, Sony - Clip: Robert O'Meally on Ralph Ellison and Bessie Smith
- Work House Blues Bessie Smith
Ralph Ellison: Living with Music, Sony - Lock and Key Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3, Sony - Clip: Maureen Mahon on the film "St. Louis Blues"
- Gimme A Pig Foot and a Bottle of Beer Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol.5: The Final Chapter , Sony - Clip: Dave Oxley on Bessie Smith's death near Clarksdale, MS
- 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 - Clip: Chris Albertson on Billie Holiday as a blues singer
- Give Me a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer Billie Holiday
The Complete Decca Recordings , GRP - Clip: Koko Taylor
- 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 - Clip: Mahalia Jackson
- 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 - Clip: Nina Simone
- Sugar in My Bowl Nina Simone
Essential Women in Blues , Platinum - After You've Gone Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington Sings Bessie Smith , Verve - Clip: Catherine Russell
- Kitchen Man Catherine Russell
Sentimental Streak , World Village - Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out Alberta Hunter
Amtrak Blues , Sony - 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 - Closing Bed: Basin Street Blues Henry Butler
American Routes original recording,
