Bessie Smith

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/bessie-smith

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Bessie Smith born?April 15, 1892
2. Where was Bessie Smith born?Chattanooga, Tennessee
3. What is the recording debut?Began her recording career with Columbia Records in 1923
4. What is the peak popularity?One of the most popular female singers during the 1930s
5. Who was Bessie Smith?Bessie Smith was a famous blues singer called the "Empress of the Blues." She sang with a powerful voice and became a superstar in the 1920s and 1930s.
6. How did Bessie Smith start singing?After her parents died, she and her siblings sang on street corners to help their family. This early singing helped her become a strong performer.

Blues Music: A genre of African-American origin characterized by expressive vocalizations, often dealing with themes of hardship, sorrow, and resilience.
Jazz Age: A historical period, primarily the 1920s, marked by the widespread popularity of jazz music and significant cultural and social change in America.
Vocal Phrasing: The way a singer shapes and articulates musical notes and lyrics, a key element of Bessie Smith's distinctive style.
Cultural Resonance: The ability of a piece of art or music to connect with and reflect the feelings and experiences of a particular society or group.