Books by Jennifer Warner

Nicknamed the Queen of the Blues, Bessie Smith rose up from poverty in the American South to become one of the most famous and respected recording artists of her generation. Smith was at the forefront of transitioning blues music from a rural novelty to a legitimate art form that critics and audiences took seriously. Behind the scenes of her success, though, Bessie navigated a story family and personal life. She had adult sisters who depended on her for a living and yet disrespected her when she wasn’t around. Likewise, she settled with a husband, Jack Gee, who mistreated her in every possible way. This book looks at the incredible and influential life of Bessie Smith.

The life of Nina Simone is one of blocked paths and surprising detours. Some people are born to an obvious destiny, only to find that society, circumstance, and chance steer them onto an entirely different course. Had Nina been born at a different time, she could very well have been a superstar of classical music at an early age. However, the severe oppression of African Americans in the United States during the 1950s forced her to find her fate down a different road. That she did so with flair, grace, and brilliance speaks to the resilience of the oppressed spirit. Though she battled terrible oppression, the greed of managers and lovers, and her own mental illness, she refused to allow the trials of life to stand in her way. What she left behind is a testament to the power of the human spirit, beautifully recorded in song. This short book tell her incredible story.