The Blues and the Empress of the Blues

Bessie Smith had a massive career in the 1920s before the Great Depression caused many of these race record labels to fold. It wouldn't be until several years after the boom started by Marvaini Smith, that any record companies turn to recording black man singing the blues accompanied by guitar or banjo. The first record of this type is probably Norfolk Blues by Rhys Dupree from 1924. Her last recording was in 1933, produced by John Hammond with the backing band including Benny Goodman and Jack T Garden.