By Leona Dunn NASHVILLE, TN — Tennesseans know Memphis as the home of the blues, but Chattanooga gave birth to one of the genres biggest stars. Bessie Smith, known as the ‘Empress of Blues’, was known worldwide because of her remarkable showmanship and voice. Now her legacy is spread throughout her hometown by the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. The Center recently re-opened to invite the public back into its space. The Chattanooga African American History Museum was initially founded in 1983. The purpose back then was to fill in the gaps traditional K-12 education left when it came to teaching…