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The beginning
W C Handy sees a bluesman playing a guitar with a knife at a train station in Mississippi -
Period: to
Blues Era
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1st Migration
U.S. enters World War I which increases the internal migration of African Americans -
The ladies
Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey make recording debuts -
Dominant Blues figure
Blind Lemon Jefferson is first recorderd. He will dominant the blues scene of the 1920's -
Melding of musical styles
Blind Willie Johnson records in Dallas, Tx which blurs the lines between blues and gospel -
The End of the Roaring Twenties
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 begins the Great Depression. This cripples the recording industry. -
The Delta Blues
Robert Johnson a legendary Delta Bluesman begins his recording career. -
Electric Guitar
The first music is recorded with the electric guitar. This sound is a hallmark of the Chicago/Detroit blues -
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters makes first recording at Stovall's Farm in Mississippi. -
Second Migration
The U.S. enters World War II which creates more opportunities for African Americans in the urban centers of the North -
Merging of Styles
Muddy Waters makes first recording in Chicago which links the Mississippi Delta Blues with urban styles -
"Race" to "Rhythm and Blues"
Billboard magazine substitutes the term "rhythm and blues" for the older "race" records -
Next Great Blues Man
B.B. King has first "rhythm and blues" hit with "Three O'Clock Blues". -
New Direction
Elvis debuts with a recording of Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's "Thats All Right" which starts the Rock N Roll movement -
Rest of The World
Eric Clapton and the Yardbirds record John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" in England which spreads the Blues to England and Europe
