MLK Called Folk Music Legend Bessie Smith the “Queen of American Folk
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Bessie Smith was an African-American blues singer. She is often referred to as the “Empress of the Blues” and was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. She is considered one of the greatest singers of her era and was a major influence on subsequent jazz vocalists.
Bessie Smith’s Life and Career
Bessie Smith was an American singer and one of the most popular blues musicians of the 1920s and 1930s. She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1894. Smith began her career singing in clubs and on the streets. In 1923, she made her first recordings for Columbia Records.
Bessie Smith’s early life and career
Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on April 15, 1894. Her father, William Smith, was a Civil War veteran and her mother, Caroline “Callie” Smith, was a housewife. Bessie had nine siblings, only four of whom survived to adulthood. The family was poor, and as children, Bessie and her siblings often had to scavenge for food. Despite their poverty, Bessie’s parents valued education and all of their children attended school.
Bessie developed a love for music at an early age. She often sang gospel songs in church and she also enjoyed listening to the music of vaudeville performers who came to Chattanooga. When she was nine years old, Bessie saw a vaudeville show that featured the famous blues singer Mamie Smith. After seeing Mamie Smith perform, Bessie began imitating her idol’s style of singing.
In 1912, at the age of 18, Bessie left home to pursue a career in music. She first found work as a singer in vaudeville theaters in the South. Vaudeville was a type of live entertainment that was popular in the United States during the early 1900s. Vaudeville shows typically featured a variety of acts such as singers, dancers, magicians, and comedians.
Bessie soon became one of the most popular acts on the vaudeville circuit. She performed with some of the biggest names in show business, including Sophie Tucker and Will Rogers. In 1923, she made her first recordings for Columbia Records. These recordings helped make Bessie one of the most successful blues singers of the 1920s
Bessie Smith’s later years and career
While Bessie Smith’s career had begun to decline in the 1930s, she made a comeback in the late 1940s with a series of successful recordings. She retired from performing in 1949, but made occasional appearances until her death in 1937.
During her career, Bessie Smith toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and her recordings were popular both here and abroad. She was one of the first African American performers to achieve mainstream success, and her music influenced generations of musicians.
MLK’s Relationship with Bessie Smith
Surprisingly, Martin Luther King Jr. was a big fan of folk music legend Bessie Smith. He even called her the “Queen of American Folk Music”. In this article, we’ll take a look at MLK’s relationship with Bessie Smith and how her music affected him.
How MLK was introduced to Bessie Smith
It is unclear exactly when or how King first learned of Smith, but it is known that he was a fan of her music. In his autobiography, King recalls listening to her records on the family phonograph as a child and being fascinated by her powerful voice. He later became friends with Smith’s son, Claude Jr., and would frequently talk about her with him.
In the early 1950s, King was working as a minister in Montgomery, Alabama, when he met Smith for the first time. She was traveling through the South with her band at the time, and she made a stop in Montgomery to perform at a local club. King went to see her show, and afterwards, he met her backstage and they talked for a moment.
During their brief conversation, Smith told King that she appreciated his work as a minister and wished him luck in his endeavors. She also gave him an autographed photo of herself, which he kept for the rest of his life. In turn, King was so impressed by Smith that he later wrote an essay about her, calling her the “Queen of American Folk Music.”
Despite only meeting once, King and Smith developed a mutual respect for each other that lasted until the end of their lives. In his autobiography, King described Smith as “one of the most beloved entertainers” of his childhood and praised her for helping to shape American music.
What MLK thought of Bessie Smith
In a radio address given on June 9, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about the power of American folk music and its ability to bring people together. He singled out Bessie Smith as the “queen of American folk music” and praised her for her roles in both the civil rights and women’s rights movements.
Smith was a prolific singer and songwriter who rose to prominence in the 1920s. Her music reflects the struggles of both African Americans and women during that time period. In her songs, she often spoke out against racism and sexism, which made her an important figure in both the civil rights and women’s rights movements.
King admired Smith for her courage in speaking out against injustice, and he saw her as an important role model for African Americans. He said that she “epitomized the tragic story of the Negro in America.” He also praised her for her musical talent, saying that she was “one of the greatest blues singers that ever lived.”
King’s relationship with Smith highlights the importance of music in the civil rights movement. Folk music was used as a tool to spread awareness about the movement and to bring people together. Bessie Smith was just one of many folk musicians who played an important role in this effort.
The Impact of Bessie Smith on MLK
Bessie Smith was an American singer and one of the most popular blues musicians of the 1920s and 1930s. She had a profound impact on the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. In fact, King once said that she was “the queen of American folk music.” Here’s more on the impact of Bessie Smith on MLK.
How Bessie Smith influenced MLK’s work
Bessie Smith, the “Queen of American Folk Music,” was a major force in the early years of the Civil Rights movement. Her music spoke to the experiences of African Americans in a way that was both personal and universal, and her message of hope and determination helped to inspire a generation of activists, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
King was just a young boy when he first heard Smith’s music, but her impact on him was immediate and lasting. In an interview many years later, he recalled that her song “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” spoke directly to his own experiences growing up in the segregated South. He also praised her courage in standing up for her rights and those of other African Americans, even in the face of danger.
Smith’s music provided comfort and inspiration to King during some of the darkest moments of his life, such as when he was jailed in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. In a letter to his wife written from jail, he mentioned that he had been listening to Smith’s recordings and that they had given him “new strength.”
It is clear that Bessie Smith left a lasting impression on Martin Luther King, Jr. and helped to shape his vision for a better America. Her music continues to resonate with people all over the world, just as it did with King all those years ago.
What MLK said about Bessie Smith’s influence
“Bessie Smith was the Queen of American Folk music,” said Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in January 1965. “She had a profound influence upon my early life.”
Bessie Smith was one of the most popular and influential blues singers of the 1920s and ’30s. Her raw, emotive voice and powerful vocal style influenced a generation of musicians, including Dr. King.
In his autobiography, Dr. King recalled hearing Bessie Smith’s music for the first time on a Victrola in his family’s home. “Her records were played constantly in our house,” he wrote, “and I can still recall the impact that her voice had upon me.”
Bessie Smith’s music helped shape Dr. King’s own views on race and inequality. In a 1963 interview, he said that her songs “expressed so beautifully and eloquently the longing of her people for freedom and justice.”
Bessie Smith’s legacy continues to inspire musicians and fans around the world. As Dr. King once said, she is “etched indelibly in our minds and hearts as one of America’s supreme artists.”
