Janis Joplin's Tribute to Bessie Smith
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No, this song is not a tribute to Bessie Smith, at least not an overt one to my knowledge. This is an interesting vocal blues with guitar and typewriter accompaniment. I think Smith's influence is apparent in Janis' performance.The tribute I am talking about is the monument Janis Joplin helped buy for Bessie Smith's grave.
Shocked to learn that jazz and blues legend Bessie Smith was buried in an unmarked grave, Janis Joplin started a campaign to raise money for a proper gravestone.John Hammond, who wrote an article he later admitted was false, that claimed that Bessie Smith died because a white hospital refused to treat her, made $60,000, a small fortune at the time, on her albums. Hammond re-released her albums after publishing the article, benefiting from the publicity the article generated. Smith signed away her rights to the royalties from her records to Hammond for $30 apiece.Hammond contributed $50 to the memorial fund.Later in the 70's after Janis' death, Dory Previn wrote and recorded a song about the stone Janis bought for Bessie, but forgot to buy for her self.
Shocked to learn that jazz and blues legend Bessie Smith was buried in an unmarked grave, Janis Joplin started a campaign to raise money for a proper gravestone.John Hammond, who wrote an article he later admitted was false, that claimed that Bessie Smith died because a white hospital refused to treat her, made $60,000, a small fortune at the time, on her albums. Hammond re-released her albums after publishing the article, benefiting from the publicity the article generated. Smith signed away her rights to the royalties from her records to Hammond for $30 apiece.Hammond contributed $50 to the memorial fund.Later in the 70's after Janis' death, Dory Previn wrote and recorded a song about the stone Janis bought for Bessie, but forgot to buy for her self.
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