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Early 20th century blues singer Bessie Smith starred in a 16-minute 1929 movie short in which sang St. Louis Blues. This is a composition written by W.C. Handy that she had much success with four years earlier and was asked to reprise on film in the setting of a Prohibition-era speakeasy. A few years back this movie was added to the National Film Registry due to its historic and cultural significance. I was unaware of the song, but it apparently has a very rich history and has been performed by many other blues artists over the decades. The lyrics tell of the singer's sadness over losing her lover to a wealthier lady from St. Louis. According to Wikipedia, it is this composition specifically, rather than the genre of blues music from St. Louis in general, that the St. Louis Blues hockey team was named after. |
