Bessie Smith Records 'Downhearted Blues,' Sells 800,000 Copies

On February 16, 1923, Bessie Smith recorded 'Downhearted Blues' and 'Gulf Coast Blues' for Columbia Records—her debut session. 'Downhearted Blues' sold approximately 780,000 copies in six months, rescuing Columbia Records from near-bankruptcy and establishing Smith as the 'Empress of the Blues.' Her Columbia contract gave her more creative latitude than most artists of the era and launched a career that would produce over 160 recordings.