When Bessie Smith sang the blues, everybody stopped to listen. She had a powerful, earthy voice which embodied all the misery and sadness of the world. She was probably one of the best female blues singers who ever lived but she lived too high, drank too much and died tragically on 26 September 1937, in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Bessie was the first bisexual, alcoholic, beaten by segregationists, cheated out of songwriting royalties, dark skinned singing sensation. She was also the first black, female superstar.

Crafted by a self confessed history geek for no financial gain, who enjoys those stories from the past that might have been forgotten, The Backtracker History Show is first aired on Bradley Stoke RadioFM in Bristol, England, before being plonked onto the podcast stage for all to enjoy

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