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"Empress of the Blues"
Tennessee-born vocalist Bessie Smith (1894–1937) was one of the highest paid black entertainers of the 1920s, earning the nickname "Empress of the Blues." She made 160 sides for Columbia Records, accompanied by top jazz musicians, such as Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, and James P. Johnson, among others. This portrait was photographed by Carl Van Vechten in his home studio. |