who was known as the empress of the blues
The most popular of the classic blues singers was Tennessee-born Bessie Smith, who first recorded in 1923. Known as the âEmpress of the Blues, she possessed a large voice with a âTâainât Nobodyâs Bizness if I Doâ attitude. Smith (who was unrelated to Mamie Smith) had toured on the T.O.B.A. circuit since 1912, originally as a chorus girl; by 1918 she was appearing in her own revue in Atlantic City, New Jersey.