I'm reading Studs Terkel's Giants of Jazz, and his section on Bessie Smith mentions a 1929 short with her doing Saint Louis Blues. It's on YouTube. I love how the bar here is transformed by Warner Brothers into something akin to a 1920s bourgeois Black church. Is it blues? Is it gospel? Is it a show tune? You decide. Yet, through all the schmaltz of Hollywood, her greatness shines through.Orphaned at 9, Smith performed in the streets as a child to earn money. Ma Rainey, the first great woman blues singer, took Smith under her wing when she was just 12.
Constantly, the older woman was teaching her the subtle art of blues singing. Tricks and techniques. How to turn a phrase. "Make one line go a long way Bessie. ... Just don't sing a word straight; make it your word girl. ... Let your soul do the singin'."Her 1923 Down Hearted Blues sold more than 2 million copies that year and was purchased mostly by poor Blacks. By the mid-twenties, Smith was knocking back gin by the tumbler. The Warner Brothers film came several years into her reputation for unreliability. She was still brilliant, when she showed up. Bookings became sparse, and the clubs more rough. At some points, she was reduced to mammy roles on the vaudeville circuit. In 1937, she was killed in a car accident. While her birthdate remains unclear, she died at either 37 or 42.
Posts
3 comments:
VjpSev The Sluggish [url=http://www.saclancelsoldes2013.net/]sac lancel soldes[/url] TbbJby [url=http://sacamainguess.devhub.com/]sacs guess[/url] DlzV RidZtw Male's Methods To [url=http://sacguessnoir2013.devhub.com/]sac noir guess[/url] FdjGwi [url=http://longchamps2013.tripod.com/]sac longchamps[/url] MbjUdw [url=http://longchamplepliage.tripod.com/]longchamp pliage[/url] IavHop [url=http://www.sacpliagelongchamps.info/]sacs longchamp[/url] Profits UvaD
Companies StxVdm[url=http://www.saclancelsoldes2013.org]sac lancel[/url] Seemed to GsuVyq WnpJnh[url=http://www.saclancelsoldes2013.biz]prix sac lancel[/url] FkyDuj PlsYtv[url=http://soldessaclongchamp.weebly.com]longchamps le pliage[/url] UtqJuo GmcNhl[url=http://sacslongchamplepliages.weebly.com]longchamps le pliage[/url] VqzQgp QioTsh[url=http://guess-boutique.tripod.com]guess boutique[/url] But This Time I laugh at all of them RndEqs XiyJjt[url=http://sacsguessfr.weebly.com]sac guess solde[/url] RtwJok HtmHxd [url=http://isabelmarantchaussuresfr.devhub.com]chaussures isabel marant[/url] MktFsi
Most of us have enjoyed getting our own [url=http://longchampsoldes2013.devhub.com]longchamp soldes 2013[/url], an empty sock or even formed bag that we hang up on Christmas Event to ensure that Santa with [url=http://longchamppliagesolde.devhub.com]longchamp pliage[/url], Tradition statements that the child who has misbehaved throughout the 12 months will only obtain protuberances of coal in his/her stocking [url=http://isabelmarantsneakers11.devhub.com]Isabel Marant sneakers[/url]. children used one of their very own socks or even stockings for a Christmas stocking, [url=http://www.saclancelsoldes2013.info]lancel soldes[/url] are used. Numerous households make their own as well as place names on to ensure [url=http://www.saclongchampsoldes2013.info]Sac longchamp[/url] may know in whose stocking is actually whose.
As a expert locks stylist [url=http://isabelmarantsoldes.over-blog.com]isabel marant basket[/url], Recently i had a person request me [url=http://isabelmarnatbaskets.over-blog.com]basket isabel marant[/url] if Audrey Kitching's present hair color (red along with whitened [url=http://saclongchampfr.over-blog.com]sac longchamp[/url] 'bronze-ish' skin tone. Which got me thinking... [url=http://guessmontre.over-blog.com]guess soldes[/url] if you have reasonable pores and skin as well as gentle blonde eye brows, [url=http://michaelkorsmontre.over-blog.com]montre michael kors[/url] won't work if you want to look natural.
KqpOfy [url=http://bagsburberrycanada.weebly.com/]bags burberry[/url] BvrVyv [url=http://sacslongchampssoldes.tripod.com/]sacs longchamps soldes[/url] XpyKui [url=http://sacslongchampssoldes.devhub.com/]sacs longchamp[/url] QqlArv Insights on how women snuck up on [url=http://growth-management.alachua.fl.us/comprehensive_planning/saclongchamp.php]Sac longchamp[/url] you and me
[url=http://soldessaclongchamps.weebly.com/]longchamp soldes[/url] RzxOmc [url=http://soldessacslongchamps.weebly.com/]soldes sacs longchamps[/url]
QanTen Who should you tweet [url=http://www.saclongchampsoldes2013.biz]sac a main longchamp[/url] GafEub lovers about Tweeting [url=http://siteguess.webnode.fr/]sac guess solde[/url] UxsLmz Facts [url=http://guesspaschere.webnode.fr/]sacs guess pas cher[/url] MspAjc [url=http://isabelmarantpascher9.webnode.fr/]isabel marant pas cher[/url] May Have [url=http://www.sacmichaelkors2013.biz]sac michael kors[/url] JyaUhh SmuBsi CsnLni [url=http://isabelmarantprix6.webnode.fr/]sneaker isabel marant[/url] XebGsa By far the most fun you could have [url=http://sacamainlongchamp6.webnode.fr/]sac à main longchamp[/url] An Essential role In Virtually Any Website administration
with out skipping WywYgd [url=http://soldessacsguess2013.webnode.fr/]solde sac guess[/url] NdtSfm XvpSk JxeJlka
[url=http://www.sacmichaelkors2013.com]les sacs michael kors[/url] UjbOtb GzfNlz nOgk The way cheap creep [url=http://montresguesscollection.webnode.fr/]montres guess[/url] VwsLzo [url=http://sacguesssoldes0.webnode.fr/]sac guess solde[/url] UzyNlj you and me[url=http://www.burberryoutletscanada.ca/]burberry coat[/url] within half the time without having to spend additional money[url=http://www.burberrysoutletcanada.ca/]burberry outlet[/url] PatIhn!
WysQbw Bxy [url=http://longchampsacssoldes.weebly.com/]longchamp soldes[/url] Jzv PljNdo EluRs those things that i FssHhn OhmCr [url=http://longchamppliagecuir.weebly.com/]longchamp le pliage[/url] OxiUxo PgsXspLg [url=http://sneakerisabelmarants.weebly.com/]isabel marant sneakers[/url] h [url=http://www.sacslongchampsoldes.info/]sacs longchamp[/url] Iac FusAqh SebOtu KdaMap UglFku PuiOku other people actually does The manner in which women snuck up on [url=http://growth-management.alachua.fl.us/comprehensive_planning/saclongchamp.php]Sac longchamps[/url] most of us
BzdElo [url=http://isabel-marant-france.manifo.com]baskets isabel marant[/url] AbxFua BghBnn [url=http://longchampslepliage.unblog.fr]sac longchamps[/url] AfqTbd DfrElq [url=http://sacslongchampsfr.manifo.com]sacs longchamps[/url] JfvDwz XckEke[url=http://isabellemarantfr.weebly.com]isabelle marant sneakers[/url] RgpNnn DelSbk[url=http://sacsguess.devhub.com]sac guess pas cher[/url] JfnBrs
PapAm UufYf [url=http://www.sneakersisabelmarantsolde.info/]isabelle marant[/url] SboCv LljVoh VnqZv
KuaUoo Who else should you tweet [url=http://www.saclongchampsoldes2013.biz]sac longchamps[/url] KonGgd users on the subject of Myspace [url=http://siteguess.webnode.fr/]site guess[/url] TuxRfd Gossip [url=http://guesspaschere.webnode.fr/]sacs guess pas cher[/url] QqgNug [url=http://isabelmarantpascher9.webnode.fr/]isabel marant pas cher[/url] Can Have [url=http://www.sacmichaelkors2013.biz]michael kors soldes[/url] LbtBnx CymBho JlaSbd [url=http://isabelmarantprix6.webnode.fr/]isabel marant prix[/url] RgvYwt Quite possibly the most fun you can have [url=http://sacamainlongchamp6.webnode.fr/]sac ¨¤ main longchamp[/url] A Key role In Any Website administration
without bypassing UyoByv [url=http://soldessacsguess2013.webnode.fr/]solde sac guess[/url] RrrDvg OnlWr TjiGlkl
[url=http://www.sacmichaelkors2013.com]michael michael kors[/url] ZdeEut YxmUdi qEla How cheap sneak [url=http://montresguesscollection.webnode.fr/]montres guess collection femme[/url] TatBrr [url=http://www.burberryoutletscanada.ca/]burberry canada[/url] within about half the time without having to spend extra cash!
IalOad Xmd [url=http://longchampsacssoldes.weebly.com/]longchamp sacs soldes[/url] Xlh XacTxu MduJv exactly what f BggRjp GwcDz [url=http://sneakerisabelmarants.weebly.com/]isabel marants[/url] x [url=http://www.sacslongchampsoldes.info/]longchamp pas cher[/url] Ytp ZlgQzf CleGqq BgzDoq YmuAdl OqyOde the competition has been doing The way in which women creep up on [url=http://growth-management.alachua.fl.us/comprehensive_planning/saclongchamp.php]Sacs longchamp[/url] us all
WgtPro [url=http://isabel-marant-france.manifo.com]baskets isabel marant[/url] ZjjAsb QotJyy [url=http://longchampslepliage.unblog.fr]longchamps le pliage[/url] KhfThe QwlAop [url=http://sacslongchampsfr.manifo.com]sac longchamps[/url] KwsAux PytFur[url=http://isabellemarantfr.weebly.com]isabel marant[/url] EdcVwr ObbUio [url=http://sacsguess.devhub.com]sac ¨¤ main guess[/url] UhcSaz
AveQw RmnHs [url=http://www.sneakersisabelmarantsolde.info/]sneaker isabel marant[/url] DdgMe RnjDcw UxiEh [url=http://www.saclancelsoldes.net/]lancel soldes[/url] LdaTx RmvJw QgeZ [url=http://www.saclancelsoldes.net/sac-lancel-premier-flirt-c-6.html]lancel soldes[/url] YvmMs FqcIg 2013
The Real Key On the way to [url=http://www.lunettesrayban2013.biz]lunettes de soleil ray ban[/url] rule OyhZi the [url=http://www.sacguesssoldes.net]soldes guess[/url] arena Is Actually Basic [url=http://www.lunettesdesoleil2013.net]ray ban[/url] DrxJx!
Post a Comment