Description

In the 1920s and 30s, Bessie Smith was the “Empress of the blues,” influencing all the blues and jazz singers that followed. Songs here have been recorded by artists like Eric Clapton, Leadbelly, Billie Holiday, Chet Atkins, Bing Crosby, David Lee Roth, Big Bill Broonzy, B. B. King and Sam Cooke. They’re great tunes for guitar pickers, and Fred shows you how to back yourself up singing them and how to fingerpick instrumental versions of six classics. With his explanations of the arrangements, split-screen, slowed-down versions of the songs, and note/tab in the PDF booklet on the DVD, you’ll learn: “St. Louis Blues,” “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out,” “Backwater Blues,” “After You’ve Gone,” “I Ain’t Got Nobody” and “Send Me To the Electric Chair.” A 1920s film of Smith singing “St. Louis Blues” is included. 98 min.