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Blues Music
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What is the "Blues"?
The blues, a term by the writer Washington Irving in 1807, is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as a type of music “marked by recurrent minor intervals” and by “melancholy lyrics.” -
Music Begins on Beale Street
Beale Street was created in 1841 but musical influence did not occur until 1905. -
Pre-War Blues
By 1912 the sheet music induestry had only published three blues songs. "Baby Seals' Blues" by "Baby" F. Seals, "Dallas Blues" by Hart Wand and "The Memphis Blues" by W. C. Handy. -
First Blues Sheet Music
The first publication of Blues sheet music was Hart Wand's "Dallas Blues. -
Military Stops Music
‘Storyville’, New Orleans’ red-light-district where Jazz and Blues were heard in every bar and cat-house, was closed down by the Military during WW1. -
Congo Square
Congo Square in New Orleans is a place of significance for lovers of modern American music. A statue of ‘Satchmo’ stands in what is now called Louis Armstrong Park, and this location is the birthplace of The New Orleans Jazz. -
Blues In the City
Mamie Smith‘s record of ‘Crazy Blues’ kick-started the ‘race music‘ industry in 1920, record companies were quick to sign their own ‘Blues Divas’ and soon mobile recording units were bringing back the sound of country Blues to downtown ‘speakeasies’. -
Chicago Blues
Tampa Red and his drinking buddy Big Bill Broonzy were at the centre of the Blues scene on the South-side from the late 20s into the 40s, running an informal ‘labour exchange’ out of Red’s apartment where newly arrived players could find out about gigs. -
Blues Shouters
In 1929, pianist Bill ‘Count’ Basie and singer Jimmy Rushing had joined Bennie Molen’s band in Kansas City. Jimmy’s voice was so loud he barely needed a microphone, and his extrovert stage presence generated huge excitement on the crowd. -
Aaron T-Bone Walker
Aaron T-Bone Walker who recorded his debut, “Wichita Falls Blues,” was cut in 1929 for Columbia Records and is believed to be the first bluesman to use an amplified acoustic guitar. -
Big Bill Broonzy
William Broonzy was born on the banks of the Mississippi in 1893, one of 17 children.The 1938 ‘Spirituals to Swing’ concert at Carnegie Hall, brought Big Bill’s music to a white audience for the first time. -
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi started out playing guitar on the ‘chitlin circuit’, backing acts like Little Richard and The Isley Brothers. When he moved to New York in 1966 was offered the chance of a new career in London. Jimi also only made three studio albums; Are You Experienced?; Axis Bold as Love; and Electric Ladyland. -
Alan Lomax
In the summer of 1942, Alan Lomax was traveling through the Mississippi Delta, recording examples of local folk music as part of his job as Assistant Archivist for the Library of Congress. -
Muddy Waters
The Chess brothers would not allow Muddy to use his working band in the recording studio. Gradually Chess relented, and by September 1953 he was recording with one of the most acclaimed blues groups in history: Little Walter Jacobs on harmonica, Jimmy Rogers on guitar, Elga Edmonds on drums and Otis Spann on piano. -
Cream is Created
1966, Eric Clapton had formed Cream, the first ‘Supergroup’, with ex-Blues Incorporated players Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker.
