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Bessie Wentworth, born Elizabeth Andrews (1873 – 6 January 1901) was an English music-hall singer and comic entertainer. She gained “considerable success” during her short career with her performances of what were known as coon songs, during which she would often appear dressed as an American plantation negro, but without the black-face makeup.[1]
Bessie’s best-known song was “Looking for a Coon Like Me”, written by George Le Brunn with lyrics by John Harrington.[1][2] Others included “The Alabama Coon”, “Happy ‘Cos Dey Foun’ Dis Coon” and “Dey Loved Each Other all de While”.[1]
A month after becoming engaged to the cyclist Alex Ross, Bessie died from typhoid fever at her London home on 6 January 1901, aged 27.[3]