Mary Elizabeth "Bessie" Jones was born February 8, 1902, in Smithville, Georgia. When she was seven months old, her parents moved to Dawson. She grew up in a large, extended family that included her stepfather, James Sampson, and his parents, Jet and Julia Sampson. It was from the Sampsons, especially Jet, that young Bessie first learned about slavery and "the old ways." Music was as important as storytelling in her family. Her Uncle Gene sang and played guitar.
These are photos from concerts where Bessie Jones and the Georgia Sea Island Singers played, so they may be of other bands that played the concert as well.
Jethro Tull / Manfred Mann / Bessie Jones and the Georgia Sea Island Singers / Clouds Apr 2 - 5, 1970 San Francisco, California, United States Uploaded by Zimtrim
