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1619 BCE
Slaves migrate into America
Slaves are first brought into Virginia -
Period: to
Blues Timeline
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Civil War Ends
Slaves are officially freed -
Songs Published
The first songs of slavery were published -
Scott Joplin Song published
Scott Joplin published "Maple Leaf Rag." Shifting the main influence on the blues style into ragtime. -
First recording
In 1902, the first known recordings of African American field hollers is released by Victor Records. -
Discovery of Bluesman
Musician W.C. Handy spots a bluesman playing a guitar at a train station in Mississippi -
Beales Street
Beales Street begun in 1841 but in 1905, W.C. Handy came in and performed his songs in the clubs. -
Sheet music
The first blues songs are published as sheet music -
Memphis Blues
The song "Memphis Blues" by W.C. Handy is published -
Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith recorded "Down-Hearted-Blues" for the first time. -
Chicago migration
In 1929 the Great Depression hit and African Americans relocated to Chicago creating Delta Blues. -
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters creates his first Chicago recordings which begun his tenure as the dominant figure in the Chicago blues. He was a key link between the styles of Mississippi Delta and urban. -
The beginning of "Rhythms and Blues"
Editor at Billboard magazine, Jerry Wexler substitutes the term "rhythm and blues" for the "race" records -
The Thrill is Gone
In 1970 B.B. King released the song "The Thrill is Gone." This song won him a grammy along with being in the Rolling Stones magazine under the top 500 greatest songs. -
Hall of Fame
In 1980 a Hall of Fame was established for Blues music
