Martin Luther King in Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Bessie Smith

1894-1937

Photographed By R. E. Smith, December 22, 2007

1. Bessie Smith Marker

Inscription. Born in Chattanooga to black parents, her great talent and determination earned her the title "Empress of the Blues." Death came in a tragic automobile accident in Clarksdale, Miss. In her memory, Columbia Records erected a tombstone with the epitaph
"The Greatest Blues Singer
In The World
Will Never Stop Singing."

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2A 75.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Women. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list.

Location. 35° 2.478′ N, 85° 17.845′ W. Marker is in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. It is in Martin Luther King. Marker is on E ML King Blvd, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chattanooga TN 37403, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (approx. 0.3 miles away); S.W. Angle of Fort Wood (approx. 0.4 miles away); Walden Hospital (approx. 0.4 miles away); The First Baptist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Presbyterian Church

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Medical Arts Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); Caleb Isbester House (approx. half a mile away); A Point in the Line of Works (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chattanooga.

Also see . . . PBS - JAZZ A Film By Ken Burns: Selected Artist Biography - Bessie Smith. (Submitted on November 27, 2008, by R. E. Smith of Nashville, Tennessee.)

Photographed By R. E. Smith, December 22, 2007

2. Bessie Smith Marker

Bessie Smith Hall - Chattanooga African-American Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By R. E. Smith, December 22, 2007

3. Bessie Smith Hall - Chattanooga African-American Museum

<i>Portrait of Bessie Smith holding feathers</i> image. Click for full size.

Carl Van Vechten (photo courtesy of the Library of Congress), February 3, 1936

4. Portrait of Bessie Smith holding feathers

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2008, by R. E. Smith of Nashville, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,869 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 27, 2008, by R. E. Smith of Nashville, Tennessee. 4. submitted on May 14, 2018. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.