Bessie smith gay

Bessie Smith, the esteemed 'Empress of the Blues,' spearheaded the blues' entrance into mainstream music during the 1920s.

Smith, born circa 1892 (or 1894, according to some records and family accounts), in Tennessee, exhibited an early propensity for performance. She departed her hometown in 1912 to join a traveling vaudeville troupe led by Pa and Ma Rainey (Bi2). Accompanying them, Bessie performed in their acts until 1915. Despite her brief three-year stint, Smith regarded Ma Rainey as a formidable mentor, and her style and stage presence were distinctly influenced by the senior performer.

Following her independent touring, Smith established herself in Philadelphia to commence her recording career. Her debut recording, 'Downhearted Blues' (1923), immediately positioned her as one of the most popular African American performers of the era. Smith's contributions to the integration of the blues into mainstream music in the United States were pivotal.

Smith contracted matrimony twice (once under common law), but her public persona was largely defined by her extramarital relationships. Reports circulated concerning a possible relationship with Ma Rainey (Bi2), although never confirmed. However, Smith's involvement with the dancer, Lillian Simpson, was openly acknowledged.

Like her mentor, Smith frequently reflected her experiences in her lyrics, evidenced in the 1930s song 'The Boy in the Boat.'

When two women walk hand-in-hand,

Consider, contemplate their shared bond:

These gatherings, intimately lit,

Invite only women.

These gatherings, intimately lit,

invite only women.

Further, her repertoire often explored themes related to the LGBT community.

Post-Depression era, Smith shifted her approach to embrace the emerging Swing style to cater to the evolving musical tastes. Tragically, she was severely injured in a 1937 auto accident, from which she failed to recover.