Bessie Smith died on April 26, 1937.
Bessie Smith -LRB- April 15 , 1894 -- September 26 , 1937 -RRB- was an American blues singer .. blues. blues. singer. singer. Nicknamed the Empress of the Blues , she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s .. Blues. Blues. blues. blues. singer. singer. She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and was a major influence on other jazz singers .. jazz. jazz