Bessie Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bessie Brown
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | "The Original" Bessie Brown; Sadie Green, Caroline Lee, and possibly Helen Richards |
| Born | 1890 Marysville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | 1955 Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
| Genres | Jazz, classic female blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1920s and 30s |
| Labels | Pathé (1920s) Document (1990s compilation) |
Bessie Brown (1890–1955) was an American singer. She was known for her classic female blues, jazz, and cabaret music. People sometimes called her "The Original" Bessie Brown. She also used other names for her recordings, like Sadie Green and Caroline Lee. She might have also used the name Helen Richards.
Bessie Brown recorded music from 1925 to 1929. It's important not to confuse her with another singer named Bessie Brown. That other Bessie Brown performed vaudeville and blues songs with George W. Williams. They were active around the same time.
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Bessie Brown's Early Life and Career
Bessie Brown was born in Marysville, Ohio. She started recording her music on November 10, 1925. Her last known recording was on April 1, 1929.
Performing on Stage
Besides recording, Bessie Brown also had a career in vaudeville. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with different acts. She performed in many shows, including Moonshine Revue and The Whirl of Joy. She also appeared in Dark-Town Frolics. Bessie Brown was also a cabaret performer. She mostly performed on the East Coast.
When she sang, Bessie Brown had a deep voice. Her singing style was sometimes compared to Sophie Tucker.
Working with Famous Musicians
Bessie Brown worked with some of the best musicians of her time. These musicians were often from Harlem, a famous neighborhood in New York City.
Some of the talented artists who played with her included:
- Thomas Morris and Rex Stewart on the cornet.
- Charlie Irvis and Charlie Green on the trombone.
- Coleman Hawkins and Buster Bailey on the saxophone.
- Buddy Christian and Clarence Holiday on the banjo.
- Porter Grainger, Clarence Williams, and Fletcher Henderson on the piano.
Later Life and Legacy
Bessie Brown stopped working in the music industry around 1932. She married Clarence Shaw in the early 1930s. She had one child, a daughter named Helen Smith Mcreynolds, from her first marriage. Bessie Brown passed away in 1955 from a heart attack.
Most of her recorded songs were put together in a special collection. This collection was called Complete Recorded Works (1925–29). Document Records released it in 1996. This album also included a few songs by a different comedian named Eliza "Liza" Brown.
Images for kids
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Bessie Brown, a talented singer from the 1920s.
