Bessie Smith: An Extraordinary Singer

The African American singer Bessie Smith was born on April 15, 1894, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was born to the parents William And Laura Smith. William was a laborer and a part-time Baptist priest. Bessie was one of the seven children in her family. The Smith family was well below the poverty line for many years. (BLUE)

She took advantage of every opportunity she was given to sing and performed in local amateur shows at movie houses as well as in a number of the storefront churches located throughout black neighborhoods (Greene, pg 9). In 1928, Billie’s mother took her to New York City. It was there where her renditions of famous songs like "Riffin' the Scotch" and "Your Mother's Son-in-Law" established her as a prodigious singer (Billie Holiday, par 2). The biography, “Billie Holiday,” gives accounts her different career accomplishments and collaborations:

She would go on to join Chick Webb and his band to produce her first two number one singles. Still fighting toward the future, Ella went through two marriages, produced over 200 albums and won thirteen Grammies. She then struggled with health problems from 1987 until her death on June 15, 1996. Even after her death, Ella left a legacy that inspired the generation after her passing; thus, resulted in a tribute album dedicated to the late singer. Ella lived a life full of twist and turns, but she kept striving for the future. No matter what obstacles fate throws at her, Ella persevered through think and thin to continue

Billie Holiday lived a tumultuous life as she went through many ups and downs during her childhood and into her adulthood. Billie Holiday was only eighteen years old when she was discovered singing in nightclubs and soon found great success as a jazz singer. In spite of her lack of musical training, Holiday’s distinct singing caught the attention of her audience and she became one of the greatest jazz singers of the twentieth century. However, despite the remarkable success Billie achieved, she continuously battled with substance abuse until the end of her life. Holiday may have had a tragic life, but her emotional, melancholic voice made her an imperative presence in the period of jazz.

On April 7th 1915, Eleanora Fagan was welcomed into the world by her young, very complicated mother and father. Her mother, a maid, was ejected from her parents apartment after they discovered her pregnancy. Her father, Clarence Holiday, who had his heart set on becoming a famous musician, exchanged his fatherly responsibilities, for a life of touring with his band and being an infrequent visitor. In the few times her father visited her, he made the observation that Elanora was a tomboy, and started to call her Bill. In an effort to be more feminine and in honor of her favorite actress and Baltimorean Billie Dove, Bill was exchanged for Billie, and the star we come to know and love was born. This seemingly small exchange in identity led her to incite major social change and influence many young artists to come. During the Harlem renaissance in which Billie Holiday thrived, culture was changing and eyes were being opened not only to black talent and potential but the injustice done to blacks and their effects on the black community. “Strange Fruit”, one of Billie’s most successful songs, is timeless. It's the song that forced open the ears of white america. Through that song and Billie holiday’s powerful performance, A story crying out to be told was finally spoken and for one of the first times, people were listening. To Bobby Short, the song was “ very, very, pivotal, a way of movingly do

Bessie Coleman was born in Waxahachie Texas and at the age of 2 two years old her father left the family to go back to indians territory. When Bessie was 12 she went to a missionary baptist church in Texas then she graduated and then went to the Oklahoma colored agriculture.In 1915 Bessie was 23 years old and she moved to Chicago to work with her brothers as a manicurist.When she had free time she would read or listen about the War World 1 pilots so then she tried to be one so she went to the United States denied because she was a different race.Bessie Coleman wanted to go to france so she can be a pilot so she was teaching herself french for months and months then she went to france and they taught her how to fly for a year they gave her a licence and she did stunts and tricks in the air.Bessie got her licence at the school of caudron brothers of Aviation in france she learned her first stunt in 1922.In her later life she did so many stunts ,spins , circles, flips ,twirls and she did it in front of everyone in france.Also she wanted to teach kids how to fly when they get older for school.Bessie went to Europe to get more information on how to do tricks and stunts.One day Bessie was flying to get to the West Coast Air Shows and her plane crash she was rushed to the hospital she was ok and alive but she had to stay in the hospital for eighteen months.In May 1,1926 Bessie was going to get a pilot named William D.Wills so,she flew her plane into Orlando to find him because she wanted to do 3 forced landing in her show but she didn’t know how to do it.The plane she

Eleanor Feagan, most commonly known as Billie Holiday, was an American jazz musician and singer-songwriter who had a career lasting nearly 30 years. The way she sang had been strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists and introduced a new way of controlling phrasing and tempo. She carried an abundant amount of emotion and character in her voice, in addition to her material. Holiday is one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time and has had an everlasting influence on American music.

Often referred to as "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald was one of the most popular female jazz singers in the United States. Throughout her career, Ella was awarded thirteen Grammys and sold over 40 million albums. With a voice that not only encompassed a large range, but a dynamic and powerful sound, Ella could sing almost anything from scatting to the popular tunes of her day. She performed in the top venues all around the world to packed houses, with audiences as diverse as the music she created. Ella came from a small town and impoverished family, but through her talent and determination, skyrocketed to fame creating a legacy that has withstood the sands of time.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, the song that put on her on the charts, Aretha Franklin, one of the most influential female artists of all time is the artist that interest me the most. With her vocals a mixture of jazz and rhythm & blues, Aretha gained fame. Her vocals were so good, that it made her to have hit records over five years, which later on in her career, cause her to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. Also giving her the title “The Queen of Soul”. Like most artists today, Franklin got her career started by singing gospel, and from gospel to pop and R&B. Aretha Franklin had many accomplishments in her time, like having 13 million songs sold. Also, “Aretha Franklin did not only symbolized female empowerment in the sound of her records

Selena Quintanilla-Perez was a talented Mexican-American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, and fashion designer. On top of her career, she had respect, and was admired as a great role model by Mexican Americans. The “Queen of Tejano” music, her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century. Billboard magazine named her the “Top Latin Artist of the 90s” and then “Best Selling Latin Artist of the decade”. Selena ranks among the most influential Latin artists of all time and is credited for catapulting a music genre into the mainstream market. Even though Selena was murdered, she achieved many great things throughout her lifetime. She is remembered today for her wonderful accomplishments. Selena was one of many Mexican-Americans to achieve crossover success with her music to become a global artist.

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” One of the many amazing quotes by an amazing woman. Marilyn Monroe was one of the most iconic model, musician, and actress of all time. Marilyn Monroe is still looked up to today and still inspires millions of people. Marilyn was born June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. Marilyn Monroe was born with the name Norma Jeane but then in 1956 she legally changed her name to the name we all know her by, Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was in and out of foster homes throughout her childhood. Although, there are many iconic and influential people in the world Marilyn Monroe has been the most influential.

This was what started her on the road the poverty. After being freed, she married another free man who didn’t make as much money either,which wasn’t much help to her already bad situtaion. They had three children who tragically died in infancy and that hurt Phyllis even more. She spent most of her life being sick and with all of these depressing events, Phyllis died at the age of thirty-one in 1784. Even though her story came to a tragic end, her legacy was not forgotten. She showed all African American women and men that they can achieve the impossible and have an intelligent mind like everyone else. Even African American poets from today like Alice Walker found her as an inspiration. In one of her poems about being brought to america, she perfectly summarizes what the struggle was being a slave that is equal to everyone

“It’s a long old road, but I know I,m gonna find the end,” that is one of Bessie Smith famous quotes. Bessie Smith is an American blues singer and is also known for “Empress of the Blues”. Bessie Smith was born April 15, 1894 and died on September 26, 1937. First I’m going to talk about her whole life. Then I’m going to talk about her career and what songs she did. Last, I’m going to talk about the last things about her life.

Lena Horne was a star who broke racial barriers. In a suppressive 1900s America, an African American woman was determined to step into the limelight to defy the racial standards of her time. She faced an uphill battle trying to create a career from her childhood, with little support from her own family, let alone a white dominated industry. When she finally proved to be an astonishing performer and struck a deal with a major Hollywood studio, she was still held back by racial segregation laws still in effect in the south. Horne recognized her influence and used her talents to go from actress to activist. Through movie roles and songs the starlette used her voice to make movements for African American civil rights.

“Unbought and unbossed” is an interesting film that covers issues with African American women, and sexual politics that also offers a simple  literary perspective of a black woman who puts herself in the middle of at the some of the most political and important issues like: black nationalism, feminism and african american women, etc. Chisholm herself writes in her book “unbought and unbothered”, “…My present attitude toward politics as it is practiced in the United States: it is a beautiful fraud that has been imposed on the people for years, whose practitioners exchange gilded promises for the most valuable thing their victims own, their votes. And who benefits most? The lawyers. (Chapter 4)”. Shirley was very active in the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People