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“Empress of the Blues”
Reading Comprehension – Informational Passages

Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.

Bessie Smith was the “Empress of the Blues.” But long before she earned that title, she and her
brother Andrew performed on the streets of Chattanooga, Tennessee. They came from an impoverished
family, so they needed to earn money for their household. He danced, and she sang. The two often
performed in front of the White Elephant Saloon, a tavern in the city’s African–American community.
In 1912, Bessie Smith met Gertrude “Ma” Rainey (known as the “Mother of the Blues.") Smith
joined Ma’s vaudeville act and became a popular Blues singer. In the 1920s, Bessie Smith starred in the
Broadway musical How Come? In 1923, she made her first record, “Gulf Coast Blues” and “Down Hearted
Blues.” It sold 800,000 copies. She made records with some of the most famous Jazz musicians of that era,
including James P. Johnson, Coleman Hawkins, and Louis Armstrong. One of her most famous recordings
was “St. Louis Blues,” recorded in 1929 with Louis Armstrong. She was the highest paid black singer of
that time. She made 160 records. But the Depression in the 1930s was not good for her career. Columbia
Records dropped her in the 1930s. She died in 1937.
Today Bessie Smith is still remembered as the “Empress of the Blues.” Bessie Smith was admitted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Q u es t i o n s : Vocabulary:
1) What was Bessie Smith called? 1) Impoverished means…
A. “Ma” A. very poor.
B. “Ma Blue” B. very humble.
C. “Mother of the Blues.” C. very talented.
D. “Empress of the Blues.” D. very important.
2) Bessie and Andrew Smith performed… 2) Another way to say starred is…
A. in the White Elephant Saloon. A. was a central part of.
B. in Chattanooga, Tennessee. B. was in control of.
C. on Broadway. C. directed.
D. in a tavern. D. negotiated.
3) When did Smith make her first record? 3) An era is…
A. 1912 A. a recording.
B. 1920 B. a sound.
C. 1923 C. a period of time.
D. 1929 D. a group of songs.
4) Smith recorded “St. Louis Blues” with… 4) What is a career?
A. Louis Armstrong A. Lifelong work
B. James P. Johnson B. Part–time job
C. Coleman Hawkins C. Health
D. None of the above D. Voice
5) Which company did Smith record for? 5) Another way to say admitted is…
A. White Elephant A. enrolled.
B. Broadway B. registered.
C. Columbia C. allowed in.
D. None of the above D. All of the above
englishforeveryone.org Name________________
Date________________
“Empress of the Blues”
Reading Comprehension – Informational Passages

Directions: Read the passage. Then answer questions about the passage below.

Bessie Smith was the “Empress of the Blues.” But long before she earned that title, she and her
brother Andrew performed on the streets of Chattanooga, Tennessee. They came from an impoverished
family, so they needed to earn money for their household. He danced, and she sang. The two often
performed in front of the White Elephant Saloon, a tavern in the city’s African–American community.
In 1912, Bessie Smith met Gertrude “Ma” Rainey (known as the “Mother of the Blues.") Smith
joined Ma’s vaudeville act and became a popular Blues singer. In the 1920s, Bessie Smith starred in the
Broadway musical How Come? In 1923, she made her first record, “Gulf Coast Blues” and “Down Hearted
Blues.” It sold 800,000 copies. She made records with some of the most famous Jazz musicians of that era,
including James P. Johnson, Coleman Hawkins, and Louis Armstrong. One of her most famous recordings
was “St. Louis Blues,” recorded in 1929 with Louis Armstrong. She was the highest paid black singer of
that time. She made 160 records. But the Depression in the 1930s was not good for her career. Columbia
Records dropped her in the 1930s. She died in 1937.
Today Bessie Smith is still remembered as the “Empress of the Blues.” Bessie Smith was admitted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Q u es t i o n s : Vocabulary:
1) What was Bessie Smith called? 1) Impoverished means…
A. “Ma” A. very poor.
B. “Ma Blue” B. very humble.
C. “Mother of the Blues.” C. very talented.
D. “Empress of the Blues.” D. very important.
2) Bessie and Andrew Smith performed… 2) Another way to say starred is…
A. in the White Elephant Saloon. A. was a central part of.
B. in Chattanooga, Tennessee. B. was in control of.
C. on Broadway. C. directed.
D. in a tavern. D. negotiated.
3) When did Smith make her first record? 3) An era is…
A. 1912 A. a recording.
B. 1920 B. a sound.
C. 1923 C. a period of time.
D. 1929 D. a group of songs.
4) Smith recorded “St. Louis Blues” with… 4) What is a career?
A. Louis Armstrong A. Lifelong work
B. James P. Johnson B. Part–time job
C. Coleman Hawkins C. Health
D. None of the above D. Voice
5) Which company did Smith record for? 5) Another way to say admitted is…
A. White Elephant A. enrolled.
B. Broadway B. registered.
C. Columbia C. allowed in.
D. None of the above D. All of the above