Bessie Smith was the most famous black entertainer in the 1920! Her singing was very iconic and she was a master of telling stories. There is a lot to remembered about her. I am very delighted to do so with Eda Özdek, a dancer, musician, organizer and much more!!

References:

• Brooks, Daphne A. Liner Notes for the Revolution - The Intellectual Life of Black Feminist Sound
• Chris Woodstra et all (1996). Stephen Thomas Erlewine, and Vladimir Bogdanov All Music Guide to Blues
• Davis, Angela Y. (1998). Blues Legacies and Black Feminism
• Debra Desalvo (2006). The language of the Blues
• Garon, Paul (1992). Woman with Guitar: Memphis Minnie’s Blues
• Gremer, Robert (). Secret Language of the Blues, What the lyrics really mean
• Harrison, Daphne Duval (1991) Black Pearls: Blues Queens of the 1920s
• Jackson, Buzzy (2005). A Bad Woman Feeling Good: Blues and the Women Who Sing Them
• Jackie, Kay (1997). Bessie Smith, a poet’s biography of a blues legend
• Jesse W. Shanks (2023). Legends from the Blues of fame
• Lieb, Sandra (1983). Mother of the Blues: A Study of Ma Rainey. University of Massachusetts Press.
• Muray, Albert (). Stomping the Blues
• Rits, David (1995) Rage to survive: Etta James
• Ward,Geoffrey and Burns, Ken (2002). Jazz, A history of America’s Music
• Thietre, Phillippe (2018). Blues en 150 Figures
• Tucker, Sherrie (2002) Swing Shift “All girl” bands of the 1940’s

This Podcast series is part of the project Swinging Europe. Co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Commission.