In what year did Bessie Smith first gain studio time?

In what year did Bessie Smith first gain studio time?

• A. 1922
• B. February 1923
• C. 1924
• D. 1925

Answer: (B)

Recording for a label marks when an artist first enters the studio. Bessie Smith’s first studio time happened in February 1923 in New York, when she recorded for Okeh Records. This session launched her recording career and produced tracks that helped establish her as a leading voice in the classic female blues. Earlier years were spent performing live, while later years would involve additional studio work, so February 1923 is the milestone moment of her first studio recording.

Recording for a label marks when an artist first enters the studio. Bessie Smith’s first studio time happened in February 1923 in New York, when she recorded for Okeh Records. This session launched her recording career and produced tracks that helped establish her as a leading voice in the classic female blues. Earlier years were spent performing live, while later years would involve additional studio work, so February 1923 is the milestone moment of her first studio recording.