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Pacifica Radio Archives’ “From the Vault”
Each week the Pacifica Radio Archives chooses a program "From the Vault" of broadcasts in a half-hour program.
This week on From the Vault we feature a program preserved, thanks to a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commision at the National Archives as part the Pacifica Radio Archives project American Women Making History and Culture 1963-1982.
Part of a November 1976 series called Focus on Women Composers, this recording explores the life of blues singer Bessie Smith (1894-1937) and includes examples of her music and readings from texts about Smith. The original program was presented by Fleur Helsingor and Jane Ayres and produced by Renee Roatcap.
Songs featured in this recording include Gulf Coast Blues, Aggravatin’ Papa, Frankie Blues, among others; readings include excerpts from Chris Albertson’s Bessie Smith biography and a 1947 Jazz Record magazine article.
