Jackie Kay: Bessie Smith, Empress of the Blues

Jackie Kay discusses her book Bessie Smith, originally published in 1997 and reissued this year. The book brings to life the tempestuous story of the blues singer and mixes biography, fiction, poetry and prose to create a fascinating account of an extraordinary life. Jackie Kay is an award-winning writer of fiction, poetry and plays, whose subtle investigation into the complexities of identity has been informed by her own life. Born in Edinburgh to a Scottish mother and Nigerian father, she was adopted as a baby by a white couple. Kay’s awareness of her different heritages inspired her first collection of poetry, The Adoption Papers, in 1991. Her most recent poetry collection Bantam was published in 2017. She was named Scots Makar in 2016 and held the position until earlier this year.

The event is hosted by Festival Patron Andrew McMillan and features Bessie Smith songs performed by jazz and blues vocalist Suzanne Bonnar.

Suzanne Bonnar is a Scottish-based vocalist and actress who has sung in solo and ensemble performances. In 2020 she appeared in Makar To Makar, the National Theatre of Scotland’s series of live-streamed conversation, spoken word and music gigs curated by Jackie Kay.