Song of the day for September 26, 2024
Down Hearted Blues by Bessie Smith is today’s featured song.
On this day in 1937, “Empress of the Blues” Bessie Smith died at the age of 43, after sustaining injuries in a car accident. Considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of blues music, Smith often delivered social commentary in her songs, speaking to the struggles of the working class, women, and Black Americans. Her powerful voice, meanwhile, can be heard on such hits as “Downhearted Blues,” “The St. Louis Blues,” and “After You’ve Gone.”
