Blues Timeline LZ

By LenaZ
  • Period: to

    Blues History

  • Work songs and Field Hollers

    Enslaved African Americans developed field hollers and work songs, expressing their hardships and laying the foundation for blues music.

  • Publication of "Camp Meeting Shouts"

    Victor Records released "Camp Meeting Shouts," the first known recording of African American music.

  • First Blues Songs Published

    The first publication of blues sheet music.

  • W.C. Handy's "The Memphis Blues" Published

    W.C. Handy published "The Memphis Blues," bringing blues music into mainstream popularity.

  • Publication of "Baby Seals' Blues"

    Baby Franklin Seals published "Baby Seals' Blues," contributing to the early spread of blues music.

  • First Country Blues Recordings

    Artists recorded country blues tracks capturing the raw essence of the genre.

  • Formation of the Memphis Jug Band

    The Memphis Jug Band popularized a unique blues style using unconventional instruments like jugs and washboards.

  • Introduction of Slide Guitar Technique

    Sylvester Weaver became the first to record using the slide guitar technique, influencing future blues guitarists.

  • Development of Piedmont Blues Style

    Artists like Blind Willie McTell and Blind Boy Fuller popularized the Piedmont blues style, characterized by intricate fingerpicking.

  • Great Migration Influences Urban Blues

    The Great Migration saw African Americans moving to urban centers leading to the development of urban blues styles in cities like Chicago.

  • Introduction of Electric Guitar in Blues

    The electric guitar was introduced to blues music, amplifying its sound and paving the way for future genres like rock and roll.

  • Revival of Blues Music

    The 1960s saw a resurgence of interest in blues music, with festivals and new recordings bringing the genre to a wider audience.

  • First Blues Festival Held

    The Ann Arbor Blues Festival in Michigan became the first major festival dedicated solely to blues music, celebrating its rich heritage.

  • Blues Hall of Fame Established

    The Blues Foundation established the Blues Hall of Fame to honor significant contributors to the genre.