Bessie Smith, the ultimate Blues Diva & 'The Empress of the Blues', was born in Chatanooga on April 15th 1894. http://www.allaboutbluesmusic.com/bessie-smith/ Bessie was the original 'wild child', who lived a life of personal excess, including drinking, drugs, swearing, fighting and taking lovers of both sexes, tempered with relentless hard work, and became one of the biggest stars of the 20s, but sadly she met a sticky end. | All About Blues Music