{
  "slug": "bessie-smith",
  "name": "Bessie Smith",
  "description": "Bessie Smith appears once in our Blues list, placing as high as No. 6. Hand-curated, with a reason for every pick.",
  "updated": "2026-08-30",
  "url": "https://waxonia.com/artist/bessie-smith/",
  "appearanceCount": 1,
  "distinctRecordings": 1,
  "years": {
    "first": 1923,
    "last": 1923
  },
  "highestPlacing": {
    "rank": 6,
    "list": "Blues"
  },
  "appearsOn": [
    {
      "kind": "genre",
      "slug": "blues",
      "name": "Blues",
      "url": "https://waxonia.com/genre/blues/",
      "entries": 1
    }
  ],
  "tracks": [
    {
      "trackKey": "bessie-smith--downhearted-blues",
      "trackUrl": "https://waxonia.com/track/bessie-smith--downhearted-blues/",
      "title": "Downhearted Blues",
      "year": 1923,
      "label": "Columbia",
      "isrc": null,
      "whyItMatters": "The Empress of the Blues on her debut, outselling everything around her. Smith phrases like a horn player, which is the technique every singer on the soul list inherited.",
      "alsoOn": [],
      "links": {
        "spotify": {
          "url": "https://open.spotify.com/search/Bessie%20Smith%20Downhearted%20Blues",
          "exact": false
        },
        "youtubeMusic": {
          "url": "https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=k39GO8TVoX4",
          "exact": true
        }
      },
      "rank": 6,
      "on": {
        "kind": "genre",
        "slug": "blues",
        "name": "Blues",
        "url": "https://waxonia.com/genre/blues/"
      },
      "artist": "Bessie Smith"
    }
  ],
  "curates": null
}