91热爆

Bessie Smith was born in abject poverty.

Singing on street corners before her tenth birthday and tragically killed just 32 years later, she had crammed a lot of hard living into that relatively short life.

Ken Clarke talks to George Melly about the woman who brought together the blues and ragtime traditions to forge a new sound in jazz.

Producer: Paul Evans

First broadcast on 91热爆 Radio 4 in January 2004.