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In 1923, when the blues trend started selling records, Bessie was signed by Columbia records, and quickly rose to stardom as a headliner on the T. O. B. A. (Theater Owners' Booking Association) theatre circuit. Her biggest recorded hit was "Down Hearted Blues", a song written and previously recorded by Alberta Hunter . Working a heavy theatre schedule during the winter months and doing tent tours for the rest of the year (traveling in her own railroad car), Bessie Smith became the highest-paid black entertainer of her day. Her recorded accompaniments included some of the finest musicians around, most notably Louis Armstrong, James P. Johnson, Joe Smith , Charlie Green, and Fletcher HendersonFletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. December 18, 1897 December 28, 1952) was an African American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and Swing music. Henderson was born in Cuthbert, Georgia. His father wa.

It has been said that Bessie's career was cut short by alcoholism, but the real cause was a combination of the Depression, which all but put the recording industry out of business, and the advent of talking pictures, which did vaudeville in. Bessie, however, never stopped performing. While the days of elaborate shows were over, she continued touring and occasionally reverted to singing in clubs. In 1929Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 See also 1929 in aviation 1929 in film 1929 in literature 1929 in mu, she appeared in a Broadway flop called Pansy, a musical in which, the top white critics agreed, she was the only asset. That same year, she made her only film appearance, starring in a two-reeler based on W. C. HandyWilliam Christopher Handy ( November 16, 1873 March 28, 1958) was an African-American blues composer and sometimes referred to as The Father of the Blues . He is most remembered for his composition " Saint Louis Blues". Handy was born in Florence, Alabama's " St. Louis Blues." In the film, she sings the title song accompanied by members of Fletcher Henderson's orchestra, the Hall Johnson Choir, and a string section--a musical environment that is radically different from any found on her recordings.

Bessie was appearing in a Philadelphia night club in 1933Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s Years: 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 See also 1933 in aviation 1933 in film 1933 in literature 1933 in mu when John HammondThere are two John Hammonds of note. They are father and son: John Hammond ( December 15, 1910 July 10, 1987) was a record producer, musician and music critic from the 1930s to the 1970s. He was responsible for discovering and developing artists such as B asked her to record four sides for the Okeh label. These were her final recordings and they are of particular interest because the accompanying band included such Swing Era musicians as Frankie Newton and Chu Berry. Even Benny GoodmanBenny Goodman born Benjamin David Goodman ( May 30, 1909 June 13, 1986) was a famous Jazz musician, known as "King of Swing," "Patriarch of the Clarinet," and "Swing's Senior Statesman". Goodman was born in Chicago, the son of poor Jewish immigrants who l, who happened to be recording in the adjoining studio, dropped by for an almost inaudible guest visit. Hammond was not pleased with the result, preferring to have Bessie back in her old blues groove, but "Take Me For A Buggy Ride" and "Gimme a Pigfoot", are among her most popular recordings.

She resumed touring with some success, adding swing to her repertoire, and continued until her death in a road accident while travelling from a concert in Memphis to Clarksdale, Mississippi along United States Highway 61. She was in a car driven by her companion (and Lionel Hampton's uncle) Richard Morgan. They were in an accident and Smith was severely injured. A doctor soon arrived at the scene and summoned an ambulance. She was taken to Clarksdale's Afro-Hospital and her arm was amputated, but she never regained consciousness and died that morning.