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Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith (April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) was an African-American blues singer widely renowned during the Jazz Age. Nicknamed the "Empress of the Blues", she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1930s. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, she is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and was a major influence on fellow blues singers, as well as jazz vocalists.

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Smith was young when her parents died, and she and her six siblings survived by performing on street corners. She began touring and performed in a group that included Ma Rainey, and then went out on her own. Her successful recording career with Columbia Records began in 1923, but her performing career was cut short by a car crash that killed her at the age of 43.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 15, 1894 (Chattanooga), Died September 26, 1937 (Clarksdale)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1933

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer, lyricist, leader, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 80862 10-in. 2/15/1923 'Tain't nobody's biz-ness if I do Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 80863 10-in. 2/15/1923 Down hearted blues Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 80864 10-in. 2/16/1923 Gulf Coast blues Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 80865 10-in. 2/16/1923 Keeps on a-rainin' Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 80949 10-in. 4/11/1923 Aggravatin' papa Down Home Trio ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio leader, vocalist  
Columbia 80950 10-in. 4/11/1923 Beale Street mamma Down Home Trio ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio leader, vocalist  
Columbia 80952 10-in. 4/11/1923 Baby won't you please come home blues Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 80953 10-in. 4/11/1923 Oh daddy blues Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano (takes 1-3); with clarinet, banjo, and piano (takes 4 and 5) vocalist  
Columbia 80995 10-in. 4/28/1923 Mama's got the blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 80996 10-in. 4/28/1923 Outside of that Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81074 10-in. 6/14/1923 Sittin' on the curbstone blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81075 10-in. 6/14/1923 Bleeding hearted blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81078 10-in. 6/14/1923 Lady-luck blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81079 10-in. 6/14/1923 Yodeling blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81080 10-in. 6/15/1923 Midnight blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81091 10-in. 6/21/1923 Play 'em for mama, sing 'em for me blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81092 10-in. 6/21/1923 If you don't I know who will Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81095 10-in. 6/22/1923 Nobody in town can bake a sweet jelly roll like mine Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81225 10-in. 9/21/1923 Dot 'em down blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81226 10-in. 9/21/1923 Jailhouse blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano songwriter, vocalist  
Columbia 81231 10-in. 9/24/1923 St. Louis gal Irving Johns ; Jimmy Jones ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo, with 2 pianos vocalist  
Columbia 81232 10-in. 9/24/1923 Sam Jones' blues Irving Johns ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81237 10-in. 9/26/1923 Graveyard dream blues Jimmy Jones ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81238 10-in. 9/26/1923 Blue Bessie (the bluest gal in Tennessee) Jimmy Jones ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81241 10-in. 9/26/1923 Cemetery blues Jimmy Jones ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81244 10-in. 9/27/1923 Whoa, Tillie, take your time Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81245 10-in. 9/27/1923 My sweetie went away Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81261 10-in. 10/4/1923 Far away blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Clara Smith Female vocal duet ("blues singers"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81262 10-in. 10/4/1923 I'm going back to my used-to-be Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Clara Smith Female vocal duet ("blues singers"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81283 10-in. 10/16/1923 Any woman's blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81391 10-in. 12/4/1923 Chicago bound blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81392 10-in. 12/4/1923 Mistreatin' daddy Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81464 10-in. 1/8/1924 Frosty mornin' blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81465 10-in. 1/9/1924 Blue Bessie Bessie Smith Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, composer  
Columbia 81466 10-in. 1/9/1924 Haunted house blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81469 10-in. 1/9/1924 Eavesdropper's blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81470 10-in. 1/10/1924 Easy come easy go blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81471 10-in. 1/10/1924 Rampart Street blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist  
Columbia 81472 10-in. 1/10/1924 Lawdy, lawdy blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist  
Columbia 81664 10-in. 4/4/1924 Sorrowful blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and piano vocalist, songwriter  
Columbia 81665 10-in. 4/4/1924 Sorrowful blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and guitar vocalist, composer  
Columbia 81668 10-in. 4/4/1924 Pinchbacks—take 'em away Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist, songwriter  
Columbia 81669 10-in. 4/4/1924 Rocking chair blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and piano vocalist, songwriter  
Columbia 81670 10-in. 4/5/1924 Ticket agent, ease your window down Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81671 10-in. 4/7/1924 Boweavil blues Irving Johns ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81672 10-in. 4/8/1924 Hateful blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81675 10-in. 4/8/1924 Frankie blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81676 10-in. 4/9/1924 Moonshine blues Irving Johns ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 81720 10-in. 4/23/1924 Banjo blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with banjo vocalist  
Columbia 81721 10-in. 4/23/1924 Four-flushing papa Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with banjo and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81881 10-in. 7/22/1924 Lou'siana low-down blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81882 10-in. 7/22/1924 Mountain top blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81883 10-in. 7/23/1924 Work house blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81884 10-in. 7/23/1924 House rent blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81893 10-in. 7/31/1924 Salt water blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist  
Columbia 81907 10-in. 8/8/1924 Rainy weather blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140062 10-in. 9/26/1924 Weeping willow blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140063 10-in. 9/26/1924 The bye bye blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140161 10-in. 12/4/1924 Follow the deal on down Fred Longshaw ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 140162 10-in. 12/4/1924 Sinful blues Fred Longshaw ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia 140165 10-in. 12/5/1924 Dying gambler's blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140166 10-in. 12/5/1924 Woman's trouble blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140167 10-in. 12/5/1924 Love me daddy blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140170 10-in. 12/12/1924 Sing Sing Prison blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140176 10-in. 12/13/1924 Dying gambler's blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140241 10-in. 1/14/1925 St. Louis blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and organ vocalist  
Columbia 140242 10-in. 1/14/1925 Reckless blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and organ vocalist  
Columbia 140249 10-in. 1/14/1925 Sobbin' hearted blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140250 10-in. 1/14/1925 Cold in hand blues Louis Armstrong ; Fred Longshaw ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia 140251 10-in. 1/14/1925 You've been a good ole wagon Louis Armstrong ; Fred Longshaw ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano songwriter, vocalist  
Columbia W140585 10-in. 5/5/1925 Cake walking babies Fletcher Henderson’s Hot Six ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance ensemble vocalist  
Columbia W140586 10-in. 5/6/1925 The Yellow Dog blues Fletcher Henderson’s Hot Six ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance ensemble vocalist  
Columbia W140600 10-in. 5/14/1925 Ragtime dance Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W140601 10-in. 5/14/1925 Soft pedal blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist, composer  
Columbia W140604 10-in. 5/15/1925 Careless love blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140605 10-in. 5/15/1925 He's gone blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, trombone, and piano lyricist, vocalist, composer  
Columbia W140606 10-in. 5/15/1925 Nashville woman's blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140607 10-in. 5/15/1925 Dixie Flyer blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, trombone, and piano vocalist, composer  
Columbia W140625 10-in. 5/26/1925 Nashville woman's blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140626 10-in. 5/26/1925 Careless love blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140629 10-in. 5/27/1925 J. C. Holmes blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140630 10-in. 5/27/1925 I ain't gonna play no second fiddle Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140717 10-in. 6/23/1925 He's gone blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Columbia W140857 10-in. 8/19/1925 Nobody's blues but mine Bessie Smith and her Band Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, banjo, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140858 10-in. 8/19/1925 I ain't got nobody Bessie Smith and her Band Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, banjo, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W140889 10-in. 9/1/1925 Down old Georgia way Bessie Smith ; Clara Smith Female vocal duet ("blues singers"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W140890 10-in. 9/1/1925 My man blues Bessie Smith ; Clara Smith Female vocal duet ("blues singers"), with piano vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Columbia W141275 10-in. 11/17/1925 I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141276 10-in. 11/17/1925 New Gulf Coast blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141277 10-in. 11/17/1925 Florida bound blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141283 10-in. 11/18/1925 At the Christmas ball Charlie Green ; Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Joe Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist  
Columbia W141284 10-in. 11/18/1925 Telephone blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W141285 10-in. 11/18/1925 I've been mistreated and I don't like it Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio vocalist  
Columbia W141293 10-in. 11/20/1925 Red Mountain blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W141294 10-in. 11/20/1925 Golden Rule blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W141369 10-in. 12/9/1925 At the Christmas ball Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W141370 10-in. 12/9/1925 Lonesome desert blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist, composer  
Columbia W141373 10-in. 12/9/1925 Squeeze me Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W141767 10-in. 3/5/1926 Them "has been blues" Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141768 10-in. 3/5/1926 Squeeze me Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141769 10-in. 3/5/1926 What's the matter now? Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141770 10-in. 3/5/1926 I want ev'ry bit of it Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W141819 10-in. 3/18/1926 Jazzbo Brown from Memphis Town Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W141820 10-in. 3/18/1926 The gin house blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W142146 10-in. 5/4/1926 Money blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Joe Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W142147 10-in. 5/4/1926 Baby doll Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Joe Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano composer, vocalist  
Columbia W142148 10-in. 5/4/1926 Hard driving papa Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Joe Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W142149 10-in. 5/4/1926 Lost your head blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W142874 10-in. 10/25/1926 Hard time blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W142875 10-in. 10/25/1926 Honey man blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W142876 10-in. 10/26/1926 One and two blues Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, cornet, and piano leader, vocalist  
Columbia W142877 10-in. 10/26/1926 It's just that feeling for home Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, cornet, and piano leader, vocalist  
Columbia W142878 10-in. 10/26/1926 Young woman's blues Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, cornet, and piano leader, composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W143490 10-in. 2/17/1927 Preachin' the blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist, composer, vocalist  
Columbia W143491 10-in. 2/17/1927 Back water blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist, composer, vocalist  
Columbia W143567 10-in. 3/2/1927 After you've gone Bessie Smith and her Band Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet vocalist  
Columbia W143568 10-in. 3/2/1927 Alexander's ragtime band Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet leader, vocalist  
Columbia W143569 10-in. 3/2/1927 Muddy water Bessie Smith and her Band Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental sextet vocalist  
Columbia W143570 10-in. 3/2/1927 There'll be a hot time in the old town to-night Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet leader, vocalist  
Columbia W143575 10-in. 3/3/1927 Trombone Cholly Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio leader, vocalist  
Columbia W143576 10-in. 3/3/1927 Send me to the 'lectric chair Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio leader, vocalist  
Columbia W143583 10-in. 3/3/1927 Them's graveyard words Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio leader, vocalist  
Columbia W143584 10-in. 3/3/1927 Hot springs blues Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio leader, vocalist, composer  
Columbia W143735 10-in. 4/1/1927 Sweet mistreater Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W143736 10-in. 4/1/1927 Lock and key James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W144796 10-in. 9/27/1927 Mean old bed bug blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano vocalist  
Columbia W144797 10-in. 9/27/1927 A good man is hard to find Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano vocalist  
Columbia W144800 10-in. 9/28/1927 Homeless blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W144801 10-in. 9/28/1927 Lookin' for my man blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone solo and piano vocalist  
Columbia W144918 10-in. 10/27/1927 Dyin' by the hour Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, piano, and tuba vocalist  
Columbia W144919 10-in. 10/27/1927 Foolish man blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, tuba, and piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W145626 10-in. 2/9/1928 Thinking blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W145627 10-in. 2/9/1928 Pickpocket blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W145628 10-in. 2/9/1928 I used to be your sweet mama Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W145650 10-in. 2/16/1928 I'd rather be dead and buried in my grave Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano vocalist  
Columbia W145651 10-in. 2/16/1928 Hit me in the nose blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano vocalist  
Columbia W145670 10-in. 2/21/1928 Standin' in the rain blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W145671 10-in. 2/21/1928 It won't be you Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W145672 10-in. 2/21/1928 I'm a cheater Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W145783 10-in. 3/19/1928 Spider man blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano songwriter, vocalist  
Columbia W145784 10-in. 3/19/1928 Tombstone blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano vocalist  
Columbia W145785 10-in. 3/20/1928 Empty bed blues Porter Grainger ; Charlie Green ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W145786 10-in. 3/20/1928 Empty bed blues Porter Grainger ; Charlie Green ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W145787 10-in. 3/20/1928 Put it right here (Or keep it out there) Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W146887 10-in. 8/24/1928 Yes indeed he do Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet or alto saxophone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W146888 10-in. 8/24/1928 Devil's gonna git you Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet or alto saxophone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W146889 10-in. 8/24/1928 You ought to be ashamed Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet or alto saxophone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W146893 10-in. 8/24/1928 Washwoman's blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W146894 10-in. 8/24/1928 Slow and easy man Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W146895 10-in. 8/24/1928 Poor man's blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W146896 10-in. 8/25/1928 Please help me get him off my mind Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W146897 10-in. 8/25/1928 Me and my gin Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W148485 10-in. 5/8/1929 I'm wild about that thing Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano vocalist  
Columbia W148486 10-in. 5/8/1929 You've got to give me some Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano vocalist  
Columbia W148487 10-in. 5/8/1929 Kitchen man Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano vocalist  
Columbia W148533 10-in. 5/15/1929 I got what it takes (But it breaks my heart to give it away) Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet vocalist  
Columbia W148534 10-in. 5/15/1929 Nobody knows you when you're down and out Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet vocalist  
Columbia W148854 10-in. 7/25/1929 Take it right back ('Cause I don't want it here) Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W148855 10-in. 7/25/1929 What makes me love you so? Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W148901 10-in. 8/20/1929 My sportin' man Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W148902 10-in. 8/20/1929 He's got me goin' James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W148903 10-in. 8/20/1929 When my baby comes Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W148904 10-in. 8/20/1929 It makes my love come down James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist, composer, vocalist  
Columbia W149074 10-in. 10/1/1929 Wasted life blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist, composer, vocalist  
Columbia W149075 10-in. 10/1/1929 Dirty no-gooder's blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W149134 10-in. 10/11/1929 Blue spirit blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W149135 10-in. 10/11/1929 Worn out papa blues James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W149136 10-in. 10/11/1929 You don't understand James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W149137 10-in. 10/11/1929 Don't cry, baby James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W150131 10-in. 3/27/1930 Keep it to yourself Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet vocalist  
Columbia W150132 10-in. 3/27/1930 New Orleans hop scop blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet vocalist  
Columbia W150458 10-in. 4/12/1930 See if I'll care Charlie Green ; Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W150459 10-in. 4/12/1930 Baby, have pity on me Charlie Green ; Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano vocalist  
Columbia W150574 10-in. 6/9/1930 On revival day Bessemer Singers ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with male vocal quartet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W150575 10-in. 6/9/1930 Moan, you mourners Bessemer Singers ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with male vocal quartet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W150657 10-in. 7/22/1930 Hustlin' Dan Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W150658 10-in. 7/22/1930 Black Mountain blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano vocalist  
Columbia W151594 10-in. 6/10/1931 In the house blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet lyricist, composer, vocalist  
Columbia W151595 10-in. 6/10/1931 Long old road Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W151596 10-in. 6/11/1931 Blue blue Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W151597 10-in. 6/11/1931 Shipwreck blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet lyricist, composer, vocalist  
Columbia W151883 10-in. 11/20/1931 Need a little sugar in my bowl Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano vocalist  
Columbia W151884 10-in. 11/20/1931 Safety mama Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W152577 10-in. 11/24/1933 Do your duty Buck and his Band ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W152578 10-in. 11/24/1933 Gimme a pigfoot Buck and his Band ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W152579 10-in. 11/24/1933 Take me for a buggy ride Buck and his Band ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Columbia W152580 10-in. 11/24/1933 I'm down in the dumps Buck and his Band ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band vocalist  
OKeh S-72265 10-in. Jan. 1924 Jail house blues Virginia Liston Female vocal solo, with guitar songwriter  
OKeh 74203 10-in. June 1926 Lone desert blues Harry Gompers Clarinet solo, with banjo and piano composer, lyricist  
OKeh W80831 10-in. 5/3/1927 Back water blues Lonnie Johnson Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer, lyricist  
OKeh W82053 10-in. 12/13/1927 Sweet potato blues Lonnie Johnson Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer, lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Bessie," accessed May 1, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104231.

Smith, Bessie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104231.

"Smith, Bessie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104231

External Sources

Wikipedia: Bessie Smith

Discogs: Bessie Smith

Allmusic: Bessie Smith

Apple Music: Bessie Smith

Grove: Bessie Smith

RILM: Bessie Smith

IMDb: Bessie Smith

Britannica: Bessie Smith

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Smith, Bessie, 1894-1937 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83071529

Wikidata: Bessie Smith - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q93349

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/24788472

MusicBrainz: Bessie Smith - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ffa28768-ecda-42c6-ac49-6ce5c7d33043

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/113246

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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