At age 9, Bessie Smith began performing on the streets of Chattanooga in the heart of the city's African American community.
She later became one of the greatest blues singers of the 1920s and '30s.  In honor of her accomplishments, The Chattanooga African American Museum is pleased to introduce the second annual Bessie Smith Heritage Festival.  Come join in the celebration and enjoy an evening filled with music at the Chattanooga African American Museum and Bessie Smith Hall front lawn and M. L. King Boulevard.

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 (423) 266-8658

The Chattanooga African American Museum and Bessie Smith Cultural Center invites you to participate in the second Annual Bessie Smith Heritage Festival on Saturday, August 22, 2009.  The festival will be held on the beautiful grounds of the Chattanooga African American Museum and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

We invite you to celebrate and participate in the rich cultural legacy of Bessie Smith as we present a diverse selection of arts and cultural programming.  The festival will offer a performance stage with ongoing entertainment, along with a diverse array of vendors including delicious food, arts, crafts, and other merchandise.

The event includes "The Bessie Smith Learning through Arts" session for youth, and education lecture/demonstration on blues with blues master guitarist Vasti Jackson, held in the performance hall.  The festival includes visual artists in "A Tribute to Bessie" with Artists in Action/Market featuring artists Jerry and Terry Lynn, Fabian Williams and Jody Harris.


Featured Artists
Music
Roy Ayers
Legendary jazz xylophonist
Tom Browne
Jazz trumpet
 Angela Winbush
 R & B
  Joe Johnson
Nashville's jazz recording artist 
Leela James
Soul singer
Vasti Jackson
Internationally acclaimed bluesman
Algebra Blessett
Neo-soul artist and songwriter
Frank Bumpass
Chattanooga's favorite contemporary jazz saxophonist

Artists in Action
Jerry & Terry Lynn
Fabian Williams
Jody Harris