Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. Bessie is famous because she was recording at the time
when it was difficult for African Americans to break into the
music world. She became the most popular singer at her time.
Bessie made $2,000 dollars a week. Bessie wrote her own songs.
She went to sing with other shows and had her own group. They
were called the Liberty Bells. Bessie died in a car accident in
Mississippi in 1937.
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