Firstly, I must say that in real life Bessie Smith must have been a wonderful person and one that I should have surely loved to have met. If anything, her story and those of all the other wonderful black female singers and performers from the 20s and 30s are courageous, heartfelt and thought provoking, considering the racism and general conditions they had to endure in order to put across their art to the public. Unfortunately, Chris Albertson, with all his enthusiasm and good intentions, is no writer or story teller and what his prose lacks is the ability to bring Bessie Smith's character to life. After perusing this book intensely I felt I knew little about the real Bessie Smith ... the person ... only second-hand opinions, hearsay and gossip. Albertson's writing style is more one of a researcher ... cold, orderly and factual ... words scribbled down upon a notepad. This book falls at the first chapter and never recovers posture. There are parts where the spelling and general grammar could do with correcting. Factual research is best left scrawled upon a scribble pad and does not make for an interesting read. 2-3 stars for effort.

"The first estimable full-length biography not only of Bessie Smith but of any black musician"...The New Yorker.

"This biography is the most devastating,provocative and enlightening work of it's kind ever contributed to the annals of jazz literature"...Los Angeles Times.

"A landmark in the writing of jazz history-a significant step in the creation of a body of jazz historiography"...Washington Post.