A fantastic amount of research went into this book and that in itself is amazing since most had to be gathered from live interviews with Bessie's colleagues. Dubbed the Emperoress of the Blues, Bessie was by all accounts a feisty, tough beyond belief, talented singer. Rising up from abject [poverty through singing, Bessie started "working" by age 9 ultimately supporting her 4 adult siblings, a husband, a few lovers and an adopted child. This biography also dispels some of the rumors surrounding Bessie's death.