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New Orleans
Groups of musicians in New Orleans began to play in what would be the first blues and jazz bands. Although jazz was very popular in this city many jazz compositions were based on blues principals. -
Background to Blues
Blues consists of a simple, poetic, and repetitive structure. African Americans used blues to sing away their sorrows and provide comic relief during very hard times. -
Chicago and Detroit Blues
During this time African American people were trying to escape the oppression they were going through, and traditional blues reminded them of the days of slavery, so they changed the sound of blues, by switching from acoustic guitars to electric and filling their sound with harmonica and upright bass. -
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Blues
Through out the years many variations of blues music have been played and spread all over the country. -
Mississippi Delta
Blues music rooted from the Mississippi delta because in this area many African American people were mistreated and during the birth of blues it was a cruel place for African Americans. The Blues was a way for African Americans to express themselves and what it was like to be oppressed. -
Blues is introduced
Blues was first introduced around the time W.C. wrote his song "Memphis Blues" which was one of the first documented blues song. -
Early Blues
In 1910 blues songs were typically instrumental and did not include any vocals. -
Mamie Smith
Blues music was mostly instrumental until the release of Mamie Smith's "crazy blues" -
African American listeners
When the use of the radio began to grow, many record companies were encouraged to recruit more african american signers and performers. -
Memphis Blues
During this time many "jug bands" began to appear which established the standard two-guitar format for many rock bands. -
Jump Blues
Jump blues were a dance oriented Big band sound with a 12-bar structure and was very popular through out the 1940's and 1950's -
Detroit
Blues in Detroit was at a peak in the late 1940's and late 1950's, when Lee Hooker began to make his first recordings. Hooker's voice was distinctive and sensual and his unique style was built around a single chord. -
Texas Blues
Texas blues were more of a swing styled blues and had a faster tempo accompanied with electric guitars. Musicians such as Stevie Ray Vaughan contributed to the more diverse, punchy, and hard driving style. -
Blues Rock
Blues rock was highly influenced by delta and Chicago blues. Young white musicians copied the high energy and lyrical styling from earlier blues musicians. -
Blues Today
Many people who listen to blues in the modern day may think it sounds "weird" if they do not look into it and learn about how rich and powerful the genre of music was,
