At the Gallery: Bessie Smith

Craven Arts Council & Gallery is proud to present “At the Gallery: Bessie Smith” performed by Heather Pierson.

Bessie Smith, known as the “Empress of the Blues”, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Bessie began singing in her youth, and in 1913 toured in a show with Ma Rainey, where she received additional training. Famous for her rich contralto voice and captivating emotional performances, the American Blues singer gained popularity upon being discovered by Columbia Records. Smith traveled through the south singing in cities such as Birmingham, Alabama, Memphis, Tennessee; Atlanta and Savanna, Georgia. Her most notable songs include “Careless Love Blues”, “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” and “Tain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do”.

Heather Pierson is a world-class performer, with her bell-tone, pitch-perfect vocals and her spot-on interpretations.  “I’ll never forget it, the very first time I played the piano – a real piano – I knew that this was exactly what I wanted to do, every moment that I had the chance to do it.” she recalls. Winner of the 2012 New England Songwriting Contest, Heather has multiple CD’s to her credit, in a variety of musical genres, which reveal her musical versatility, from New Orleans jazz, folk narratives, Delta Blues and, for us, Bessie Smith.

Tickets: $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers.