Blues singer Bessie Smith records 'Down Hearted Blues,' which becomes a runaway hit for Columbia Records.
At a Glance
- Date
- 16 February 1923
- Location
- New York, New York
- Key people
- Bessie Smith
- Category
- Music
- Source
- Columbia Records session (1923) · Library of Congress
What It Meant Then
Her success proved the commercial power of Black recording artists.
What It Means Now
Smith, the 'Empress of the Blues,' became the highest-paid Black performer of her day.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Bessie Smith Makes Her First Recording.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/bessie-smith-makes-her-first-recording/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Bessie Smith Makes Her First Recording. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/bessie-smith-makes-her-first-recording/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Bessie Smith Makes Her First Recording.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/bessie-smith-makes-her-first-recording/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.