Queen Latifah (Photo : Reuters)
In partnership with HBO, the City of Chattanooga, Bessie Smith's birthplace, will host a special screening of the biopic "'Bessie" starring Queen Latifah. Before the screening, a reception will be held at the Tivoli where 1920s and 1930s cars, Smith's songs and live music will be featured.
Before "Bessie" aire on May 16, Latifah has dished on her HBO television film in which she plays the blues legend. In a recent interview with NPR, she talked about why Smith was very important to singing not only to blues, jazz or African-American music.
As a singer, Latifah said she wishes Smith was recorded with modern equipment because she thinks Smith's vocals are very powerful.
"When you listen to the small inflections, her vibratos, the way she said certain words, like even if it's just saying 'here' or 'heeyah,' I mean, I'm still working on how to say it the way she said it," Latifah explained. "But she had this crazy vibrato that was so different than anyone I had ever heard."
In another interview with Syracuse, Latifah said she felt like the "Bessie" title role was the role of a lifetime. She noted that there was no Google when the movie came to her so she bought the box set and started listening to Smith's music.
Latifah admitted that she was terrified at first because Smith's music and voice are very different from hers.
Smith was only 43 years old when she was killed in a Mississippi car accident in 1937. Prior to her death, she had managed to establishe her title as the "Empress of the Blues." At the time, the blues music industry was controlled by whites and dominated by men.
Directed by Dee Rees, "Bessie" also "Precious" actress Mo'Nique, The Good Wife" actor Oliver Platt, "Scandal" star Khandi Alexander and "Zero Hour" alum Charles S. Dutton, among others.
