{"product_id":"bessie-9780300107562","title":"Bessie","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe definitive biography of Bessie Smith, the great singer known as the \"Empress of the Blues\"\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Considered by many to be the greatest blues singer of all time, Bessie Smith was also a successful vaudeville entertainer who became the highest paid African-American performer of the roaring twenties. This book--a revised and expanded edition of the classic biography of this extraordinary artist--debunks many of the myths that have circulated since her untimely death in 1937. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Chris Albertson writes with insight and candor about the singer's personal life and her career, supplementing his historical research with dozens of interviews with her relatives, friends, and associates, in particular Ruby Walker Smith, a niece by marriage who toured with Bessie for over a decade. For this new edition he includes more details of Bessie's early years, new interview material, and a chapter devoted to events and responses that followed the original publication in 1971.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eChris Albertson\u003c\/b\u003e is the acknowledged authority on Bessie Smith. A long-time contributor to \u003ci\u003eStereo Review, Down Beat, Saturday Review, \u003c\/i\u003eand other publications, he has written extensive liner notes for jazz and blues albums and has produced a wide array of recordings, radio, and television programs.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Yale University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50460085485842,"sku":"9780300107562","price":37.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_eeef7259-dc41-4cfe-91a6-5f980d877555.jpg?v=1730026210","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/bessie-9780300107562","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}