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After slaves arrived in America, the Blues originated in the Deep South around the 1870’s. It started with spiritual themes.
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Once southern slaves were freed they began going to “Juke Joints” to listen to live music.
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Slave Songs of the United States, the earliest of African American spirituals, is published.
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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.
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Victor Records issues the first known recording of black music called, “Camp Meeting Shouts”.
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W.C. Handy is named the “Father of the Blues” by writing and publishing the first commercially successful song, “Memphis Blues”.
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Mamie Smith records “Crazy Blues” and It becomes the first blues hit and is considered the very first blues recording.
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First male folk blues records are issued. Singers Papa Charlie Jackson and Daddy Stove Pipe are featured.
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During the depression sales of records and phonographs decline which cripple the recording industry.
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Many Southern African Americans migrated north to cities such as New York and Chicago and brought their music with them.
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Huddle Ledbetter aka Leadbelly was the first artist to play Blues to a white audience outside of the South.
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The electric guitar was developed in the early 1930s and was first recorded in 1939. It helped transform the sound of the Blues.
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Muddy Waters Is a key link between the Mississippi Delta and urban styles of Blues.
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Muddy Waters and BB King perform at Fillmore East in New York City to a mostly white audience.
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Robert Johnson’s recordings sold over 400,000 copies in six months.
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Congress declares 2003 the “Year of the Blues”.
