The history of Mississippi is a sad story of slavery and oppression. It is a story of racism and the refusal to abandon segregationist ideals. The history of Mississippi is enough to give many people the blues. In fact, Blues style music originated in Mississippi and developed from there. The history of Mississippi and that of the Blues are closely linked. Delta Blues is a style of blues originating from the Mississippi Delta and which has influenced many musicians. Another musical art form, Jazz can be considered a descendant of Blues and also began in the South. Many blues musicians and singers come from or are connected to Mississippi for various reasons. Bessie Smith, Charley Patton, Muddy Waters and Cassandra Wilson all made their mark on Mississippi history through blues and jazz music. Although Bessie Smith was not born in Mississippi and did not make her home there, she will always be remembered for her tragic and untimely death there. Blues singer Bessie Smith, known as the "Empress of the Blues," was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1894. The blues may have come naturally to Smith. Early in her life, she lost her father before she could even remember him. Smith was orphaned at the age of nine after also losing her mother. Furthering her attraction to Blues music, she also lost a brother before the age of ten. It's no wonder she experienced the pains of poverty at such a young age. An older sister took over responsibility for the family, but it couldn't have been easy. Smith and a brother helped the family earn money by busking, a form of street performance. Another brother left the family to join a traveling vaudeville show. Although his exit was painful and without warning for Smith, it paved the way for the middle of the paper in Chicago and transplanted the Blues there. His style of playing became associated with the Chicago Blues style. Blues music is a big part of Mississippi's history. Delta Blues is the distinctive style of Blues music originating from the Mississippi Delta. Bessie Smith, one of the most famous early blues singers, died in Mississippi and will always be associated with Mississippi. Charley Patton, who spent his entire life in Mississippi, is considered the "father of Delta Blues." He influenced many young Blues players. Muddy Waters was born in Mississippi and learned to play Blues there, but he developed a style of Blues music that influenced Mississippi and beyond. org/wiki/Charley_Patton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dockery_Plantaion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muddy_Waters