Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20210222 | Scotland's national poet Jackie Kay brings to life the tempestuous story of the greatest blues singer who ever lived.
Orphaned by the age of nine, Bessie Smith sang on the street to support her siblings and was swept into travelling shows as a young woman. Facing extreme racial prejudice, she brawled under the influence of bathtub gin and had tumultuous love affairs with men and women. She also sold hundreds of thousands of records and became a genuine superstar.
`The first time I saw Bessie Smith, it really was like finding a frien |
| 02 | 20210223 | Scotland's national poet Jackie Kay charts the rise and fall of Bessie Smith as she brings to life the dramatic story of the greatest blues singer who ever lived.
Orphaned by the age of nine, Bessie Smith sang on the street to support her siblings and was swept into travelling shows as a young woman. Facing extreme racial prejudice, she frequently brawled under the influence of bathtub gin and had tumultuous love affairs with men and women. She also sold hundreds of thousands of records and became a genuine superstar.
`The first time I saw Bessie Smith, it really was like finding a frien |
| 03 | 20210224 | Scotland's national poet Jackie Kay explores the success of Bessie Smith and the rise in popularity of the blues, as she brings to life the dramatic story of the greatest blues singer who ever lived.
Orphaned by the age of nine, Bessie Smith sang on the street to support her siblings and was swept into travelling shows as a young woman. Facing extreme racial prejudice, she frequently brawled under the influence of bathtub gin and had tumultuous love affairs with men and women. She also sold hundreds of thousands of records and became a genuine superstar.
`The first time I saw Bessie Smith, it really was like finding a frien |
| 04 | 20210225 | Scotland's national poet Jackie Kay turns her creative lens on the legendary life of Bessie Smith, as she brings to life the dramatic story of the greatest blues singer who ever lived.
Orphaned by the age of nine, Bessie Smith sang on the street to support her siblings and was swept into travelling shows as a young woman. Facing extreme racial prejudice, she frequently brawled under the influence of bathtub gin and had tumultuous love affairs with men and women. She also sold hundreds of thousands of records and became a genuine superstar.
`The first time I saw Bessie Smith, it really was like finding a frien |
| 05 | 20210226 | Scotland's national poet Jackie Kay examines the rumours and controversies around the death of Bessie Smith, as she brings to life the dramatic story of the Empress of the Blues.
Orphaned by the age of nine, Bessie Smith sang on the street to support her siblings and was swept into travelling shows as a young woman. Facing extreme racial prejudice, she frequently brawled under the influence of bathtub gin and had tumultuous love affairs with men and women. She also sold hundreds of thousands of records and became a genuine superstar.
`The first time I saw Bessie Smith, it really was like finding a frien |