Throwback: Happy 133rd Birthday, Bessie Smith!

2025 is rushing by. It’s now April. How did that happen, y’all? April is a busy month in music history. 

• Gil Scott-Heron was born 76 years ago on April 1 
• The legendary Marvin Gaye was born 85 years ago on April 2
• Bella Union Records founder and label head, singer/songwriter, musician and Cocteau Twins‘ Simon Raymonde celebrated his 63rd birthday on April 3
• David Roback, one-half of acclaimed and beloved dream pop duo Mazzy Star was born on this day 67 years on April 4
• The great Jill Scott, “Jilly from Philly” celebrated her 53rd on April 4
• The legendary bluesman Muddy Waters was born 112 years ago on April 4
• Smash-hit producer, songwriter and artist Pharrell Williams celebrated his 52nd birthday on April 6
• Merle Haggard, one of the most beloved figures of the Outlaw Country movement was born on this day 85 years ago on April 6
• Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV, a.k.a. Black Francis, a.k.a Frank Black celebrates his 60th — yes, y’all 60th! — birthday on April 7
• John Oates, best known for his work with the blue-eyed soul duo Hall & Oates one of the most commercially successful duos ever, celebrates his 76th birthday on April 7
• The legendary and incomparable Billie Holiday as born 110 years ago on April 7
• Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider was born 78 years ago on April 7
• The legendary Biz Markie was born 61 years ago on April 8
• A Tribe Called Quest‘s  Q-Tip, one of hip-hop’s greatest emcees and producers celebrated his 55th — yes, y’all 55th! — birthday on April 10
• Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds celebrated his 66th birthday on April 10
• The legendary and pioneering Herbie Hancock celebrated his 85th birthday — yes 85th y’all! — on April 12
• Echo & The Bunnymen‘s Will Sergeant celebrated his 67th birthday on April 12
• Radiohead‘s Ed O’Brien celebrates his 57th birthday today

The Empress of the Blues, Bessie Smith was born on this day 133 years ago. Smith was one of the most popular and beloved female blues singers of the 1930s. Often considered one of the greatest singers of her era, she was a towering influence on generation of blues and jazz vocalists. And that shouldn’t be surprising, her voice is singular and expresses bitter heartache, joy, longing, passion and ribald humor within a turn of a phrase.

Happy birthday, Ms. Smith! Happy birthday, wherever you are!