When it comes to influential people in the 1920's, Bessie Smith not only takes a slice of the cake, but her face is plastered into the frosting. She had an exciting life, which transported her into singing the blues. Before she was known as the "Empress of the Blues", her life began when she was born an African American, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She lived with her poor black family, and before the tender age of …showed first 75 words of 502 total…

…showed last 75 words of 502 total…death before she could reach a hospital. A magazine published an article that said that although; the white hospital was very close to where the accident took place, Bessie was rushed to the nearest "negro" hospital. In September, 1937, Bessie was taken from this world. Bessie represented many of the time periods trends. She was a flapper, and a strong willed woman. She had a lot of influence on young black woman, and the music industry.