Back in 1986 there was a great PBS 4-part series called BROWN SUGAR based on Donald Bogle's book chronicling the lives of the 20th century's great black female singers - well, this is my version!

The only place to start is with The Empress of The Blues, Bessie Smith.

She set the template for so many biographies to come - impoverished childhood, huge acclaim, good times, bum times, abusive cheating husband, affairs with both sexes, slapping down anyone who crossed her and sadly, a tragic death at 43 which has long been the subject of rumour and conjecture.

73 years after the car crash that rich, pure, voice lives on - to inspire, to move, to thrill.