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Estimation of the start of blues music.
In 1901 an archaeologist from Mississippi described some of the African American workers songs that they would often sing that had a lot of the same qualities of blues. -
First documented blues music
W.C handy was the first person to write about blues music. He was sleeping in a train station and saw a guy playing blues music with a guitar and pocket knife. He was forever changed and went on to be one of the most popular blues players. -
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Blues Timeline
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First publishing of a blues song
Handy's Memphis Blues by W.C is published. This is the very first blues song to be published. -
Mamie Smith records " Crazy Blues."
The first recording of a blues song, but also the first recording of an African American singing. -
Race Records established.
This record company came to be one of the most popular and successful blues recording companies. They targeted an audience of African Americans and they gave many people the chance to have thier music recorded and heard. -
Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith records her first blues song, "Downhearted Blues" and she is an instant hit. She is known as the "Queen of Blues music." -
Georgia Born Tampa Red sings “It’s Tight Like That”
This song is the begining of a trend called urban blues. Many songs after this one began taking on the same sound. -
First Electric Guitar
The electric guitar was made by Rickenbacker. This guitar changed the songs of blues. -
Les Paul invents "The Log" guitar.
Les Paul was a blues player, and singer. The log was the first full body guitar. -
The founding of Sun Records.
This mainly blues recording studio was founded in Memphis Tennessee. They founded many singers such as Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Howlin' Wolf. -
Blues audience changes.
In the begining of blues most of the listeners and singers were African American. During this time the auidience started shifting and more and more whites were listening to Blues. -
Elvis makes his debute as a blues singer
Elvis got his start by recording a very popular blues song by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup. -
Newport Folk Festival
This festival was a popular spot for very many blues players to have the chance to show people thier music. Some of the people who attended were the Allman Brothers, John Lee Hooker, and and Skip James. -
The release of Robert Johnsons's LP
Colobia Records release of these songs sparked the popularity of blues music in England. -
Blues Hall of Fame Founded.
The blues hall of fame was founded in Memphin Tennessee. Some people who were inducted include B.B King, Muddy Waters, and Albert King.
