-
Slaves Arrive in Americas
After slaves arrived in America, the Blues originated in the Deep South around the 1870’s. It started with spiritual themes. -
Period: to
Blues Timeline
-
Emancipation Proclamation / Julie Joint
Once southern slaves were freed they began going to “Juke Joints” to listen to live music. -
Slave Song Published
Slave Songs of the United States, the earliest of African American spirituals, is published. -
Ragtime Influence
Scott Joplin publishes “Maple Leaf Blues”. Ragtime Will become a key influence on the Piedmont style of blues. It was first Recorded in 1903 and there are no known copies left. -
Black Music First Recorded
Victor Records issues the first known recording of black music called, “Camp Meeting Shouts”. -
Father of the Blues
W.C. Handy is named the “Father of the Blues” by writing and publishing the first commercially successful song, “Memphis Blues”. -
First Blues Hit
Mamie Smith records “Crazy Blues” and It becomes the first blues hit and is considered the very first blues recording. -
First Folk Blues Records
First male folk blues records are issued. Singers Papa Charlie Jackson and Daddy Stove Pipe are featured. -
Great Depression- Sales Decline
During the depression sales of records and phonographs decline which cripple the recording industry. -
Great Depression and the Movement of Blues to the North
Many Southern African Americans migrated north to cities such as New York and Chicago and brought their music with them. -
Performance for White Audience
Huddle Ledbetter aka Leadbelly was the first artist to play Blues to a white audience outside of the South. -
Introduction of the Electric Guitar
The electric guitar was developed in the early 1930s and was first recorded in 1939. It helped transform the sound of the Blues. -
Muddy Waters Records in Chicago
Muddy Waters Is a key link between the Mississippi Delta and urban styles of Blues. -
White Audience Fan Base
Muddy Waters and BB King perform at Fillmore East in New York City to a mostly white audience. -
Record Sales
Robert Johnson’s recordings sold over 400,000 copies in six months. -
Year of the Blues
Congress declares 2003 the “Year of the Blues”.
