Biography
The date of Bessie Smith’s first recorded performance
When was May 8th, 1909?
The names of Bessie Smith's debut recordings
What are Downhearted Blues and Gulf Coast Blues?
The artist she collaborated with on St. Louis Blues
Who is Louis Armstrong?
The conventional blues lyrical pattern followed by most of Bessie Smith’s songs
What is a a b?
The title Smith earned for her success
Who is The Empress of Blues?
The group Bessie Smith left the vaudeville “circuit” to work with
Who were Ma Rainey and the Rabbit Foot Minstrels?
The amount of copies sold of Bessie's debut record
What is over 2 million copies of Downhearted Blues?
The song that deals with simultaneously losing relationships and wealth during the prohibition era
What is Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out?
The reason why Bessie Smith’s music continues to stand out out
What is: her ability to channel her personality into her music?
The name of Bessie Smith's most popular collaboration with Louis Armstrong
What is Saint Louis Blues?
Bessie Smith’s second husband, who she had a tumultuous relationship with
Who is Jack Gee?
The name of the record company saved from a financial slump by Bessie's debut
What is Columbia Records?
The three songs of hers that have been in the Grammy Hall of Fame
What are the Empty Bed Blues, St. Louis Blues, and Downhearted Blues?
The themes Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer captured that differed from Smith's typical themes
What are carefree indulgence, escapism, a desire for joy and community, and the connection between music and food?
The reason Bessie Smith is so cool
What is she's the highest paid black entertainer of her time? (including Louis Armstrong!)
Bessie Smith and her brother Andrew’s way of supporting their family after being orphaned
What was street performing?
The person whos birthday Bessie Smith's debut song was recorded on 103 years ago
Who is your host!!
The song with the verse "He's got rhythm, yeah, when he stomps his feet
He sends me right off to sleep
Check all your razors and your guns
Do the shim-sham-shimmy 'til the rising sun"
What is Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer
One of many musicians inspired by Bessie Smith’s music, who paid for the engraving on Bessie Smith’s grave
Who is Janis Joplin?
The Halls of Fame that Bessie Smith is in
What are The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Women's Hall of Fame?
DOUBLE DOUBLE The circumstances of Bessie Smith's death
What is a car accident? (bonus points only awarded for explanation of controversy)
The unique element of her debut songs structure
What is Downhearted Blues starts as a vaudeville piece (inspired by her history) before transitioning into a more typical 12-bar blues structure?
Three unique things about the song Tain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do (1923)
What are 1. it promoted controversial ideas about black women's autonomy and freedom from stereotypes, 2. it doesn't follow the typical 12-bar blues phrase, 3. it was recorded by tons of famous artists after Smith popularized it, including Billie Holiday?
6 themes Bessie Smith incorporated into her music
What are racism, sexism, poverty, love, female sexuality, and hardships of Black Americans?
The engraving put on a headstone for her in 1971
What is “The greatest blues singer in the world will never stop singing”?