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"The Saint Louis Blues" (or "St. Louis Blues") is a popular American song composed by W. C. Handy in the blues style and published in September 1914. It was one of the first blues songs to succeed as a pop song and remains a fundamental part of jazz musicians' repertoire.
- Blues
Aug 2, 2021 · Bessie Smith’s overwhelming talent helped her overcome a humble Tennessee upbringing. Just two years before her take on “St. Louis Blues,” she scored the first of many hits for Columbia ...
- Jim Beviglia
- Contributor
May 31, 2024 · “The St. Louis Blues” played a significant role in shaping and popularizing the blues genre. Bessie Smith’s rendition of the song showcased the power and emotional depth of the blues, paving the way for future blues artists.
In 1929, Bessie Smith made her only film appearance, and she sang “St. Louis Blues” with a large orchestra and chorus featuring James P. Johnson. As one of the earliest Harlem stride pianists, Handy’s song was probably a longtime part of Johnson’s repertoire.
Sporting an equally apt nickname to Handy, “the Empress of Blues,” Smith has been recognized as the most popular female blues singer of the 20’s and 30’s.
It was sung by Theresa Harris and played several times, including in the opening credits, in the 1933 movie Baby Face. St. Louis Blues, a highly fictionalized 1958 biopic of Handy that starred Nat King Cole as the blues composer, was named after his most famous song.
Bessie Smith with Orchestra (Louis Armstrong -- cornet, Fred Longshaw, harmonium) -- St. Louis Blues, Parlophone ca 1935 (British re-edition of the US Columb...
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