Bessie Smith

African-American singer Bessie Smith (1894 or 1898-1937) was an acclaimed jazz and blues singer. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) presents a biographical sketch of Smith as part of "Biographies: Life and Times of the Great Ones," an online supplement to "JAZZ," a documentary film by American film maker Ken Burns. PBS includes an audio feature with reflections about Smith, as well as an audio sample of her music. The information is courtesy of the "New Grove Dictionary of Jazz."