June 20 Artist of the Day: Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith is June 20 Artist of the day.  She was known as the “empress of the blues”.  Read about this trailblazer vocalist here:

Rock&Roll Hall of Fame: http://rockhall.com/inductees/bessie-smith/bio/

PBS: http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_smith_bessie.htm

NPR: http://www.npr.org/2008/05/07/90206287/bessie-smith-blues-empress

National Park Service (NPS): http://www.nps.gov/history/delta/blues/people/bessie_smith.htm

Youtube videos: “Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MzU8xM99, “I’m Wild About That Thing” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0TDNR3NEY0