Blues Artist research Use the following information slide to complete your blues artist profile. You will have to scan read the information in order to research each blues performer carefully. You can write or type your answers on the research worksheets separately. You may extend the detail of one of your profiles using internet research if you have access. Jazz and blues vocalist Bessie Smith's powerful, Bessie Smith soulful voice won her countless fans and earned (1894–1937) her the title "Empress of the Blues." Singer/ rapper Queen Latifah played Bessie Smith in a recent Bessie Smith began to sing at a young age and TV series by HBO "Downhearted in 1923 signed a contract with Columbia Blues," which was Records. Soon she was among the highest-paid one of her most black performers of her time with hits like popular songs "Downhearted Blues." By the end of the 1920s, popular and sold an however, her popularity had lessened, though estimated 800,000 she continued to perform and made new copies, propelling recordings at the start of the Swing Era. Unfortunately her Smith into the blues comeback and life spotlight. were cut short when she died on Perhaps Smith's "Nobody Knows You When You're Smith also collaborated September 26, Down and Out," written by Jimmy most popular with the legendary jazz 1937, from song was her Cox six years earlier. Smith's version of the song, released in artist Louis Armstrong on injuries sustained 1929 hit "Nobody several tunes, including in an automobile Knows You When September 1929. Some say it "Cold in Hand Blues" and accident outside You're Down and predicted the stock market Out," crashing. The song would later "I Ain't Gonna Play No of Clarksdale, become the basis of a short film Second Fiddle," and "St. Mississippi. by the same name. Louis Blues." “King of the Blues" B.B. King began as a singer and B.B. King While in hospice care, guitarist born into a sharecropping family on September King died in his sleep on 16, 1925, in Itta Bena, Mississippi. (1925–2015) May 14, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada, leaving behind an enduring musical legacy. After serving in World War II, Riley B. King became a the guitarist cut his first record in 1949. He His most famous songs disc jockey in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was spent the next several decades recording and dubbed "the Beale Street Blues Boy." That nickname touring, playing more than 300 shows a year. An include: 1. The Thrill is Gone was shortened to "B.B." artist of international renown, King worked with other musicians from rock, pop and country 2. Three O’clock blues 3. Rock me baby He and his fellow band backgrounds. He won his 15th Grammy Award 4. Woke up this morning performed across the world in 2009. 5. You know I love you He recorded a string including for the famous boxer of rhythm and blues Mohammed Ali on the night of hits, including "You his world boxing title match King became one of Know I Love You," Africa. the best-known blues "Woke Up This performers for his Morning" and confident and "Three O'Clock Even going on to perform at the expressive guitar Blues,“ which white house for President reached No. 1 on Obama. playing and singing. the R&B charts and became his first B.B. King is also known for his famous Guitar the Gibson 'Lucille’ He also later became national hit. this was named after a lady who worked in a music venue. Copies of a major influence and this electric guitar are still made and played by different musicians inspiration for rock across the world guitarists..