History of Blues Music

By tgraif
  • Slave Songs Published

    Slave Songs Published

    This was the first and most influential collection of slave songs published.
  • Period: to

    Timespan

  • Handy was Inspired

    Handy was Inspired

    W.C. Handy heard a man singing repeated lines three times with guitar accompaniment for the first time.
  • Memphis Blues is Published

    Memphis Blues is Published

    The first blues song, by W.C. Handy, was published.
  • The US Enters WWI

    The US Enters WWI

    The military and economic changes caused African-American's internal migration.
  • Mamie Smith records "Crazy Blues"

    Mamie Smith records "Crazy Blues"

    The first blues hit was recorded.

  • Blues Reaches a Wider Audience

    Electrical recording technology is introduced and helps blues music spread. Enter Link text
  • Blind Lemon Jefferson Records First Song

    Blind Lemon Jefferson Records First Song

    One of the biggest blues figures of the 1920's recorded their first song.

  • Charley Patton Records First Song

    An influential figure to delta blues recorded their first song.
  • The Great Depression Hits

    The Great Depression Hits

    This caused many African Americans to migrate towards Chicago, starting Chicago Blues.
  • Earliest Electric Guitars Are Designed and Produced

    Earliest Electric Guitars Are Designed and Produced

    These guitars eventually become the cornerstone of electric blues.

  • The First Records by Bluebird Records Are Released

    The eventual “Bluebird Sound” would go on to be a major influence on Rhythm and Blues and early Rock N
    Roll.
  • Muddy Waters Makes His First Recording

    Muddy Waters Makes His First Recording

    His early recordings took place in the
    middle of Muddy Waters’ house in Stovall, Mississippi.
  • Billboard Creates a “Rhythm and Blues” Category

    Billboard Creates a “Rhythm and Blues” Category

    This replaces the name of "Race" music to R&B.

  • Chuck Berry Records and Releases “Maybelline”

    The song reached number 1 on the
    Billboard R&B chart and number 5 on the Billboard Pop chart.

  • The First U.S. Rolling Stones Tour

    This marks the beginning of the invasion of the British blues rock bands.