Dinah's version of the already beloved song gave it a whole new lease of life in the closing months of the 1950s.
A question of boundaries lays at the heart of music censorship, but artists have always pushed back, fighting for the freedom to express themselves.
Near the end of her own tragically short life, Janis made a remarkable gesture to honour one of her blues heroines.
From B.B. King to Muddy Waters, these are the 100 greatest blues albums of all-time.
Birthing some of the world’s greatest music, the history of New York’s Apollo Theater parallels “the evolution of black American identity”.
So much more than a blues singer, Bessie Smith was an icon for her race and gender, and her legend resonates like no other in the history of blues singers.
There is no shortage of talented vocalists, but the best female jazz singers possess unique voices which hold their own against their male counterparts.
The history of recorded jazz is hard to pin down. So many conflicting stories make up a rich patchwork that guides us towards the truth of how jazz began.
As talent scout, producer, musicologist, broadcaster, journalist and mentor, Hammond helped the world to discover some of the greatest musicians of all time.
As one of the most influential forces in music and culture, here is infographic snapshot of historical milestones that helped to bring about the blues.
Louis Armstrong moved to New York in 1924 and began working as a session musician for Blues Divas like Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and Clara Smith
A new production of The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith has had its US west coast premiere.
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out is quintessential blues with a recording pedigree that goes from 1927 to the present day
Motown giant Smokey Robinson has been named as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s latest Music Master, the 20th artist to be so honoured.
