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The origins of modern Blues start here. Songs were sung on plantations or during work to get through the day. It carries on to become a defining genre for America.
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W.C. Handy, who is considered "The Father of Blues" is born this year.
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A Blues queen and superstar, Bessie Smith is the most influential female Blues artist.
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Considered to be one of the most electrifying Blues performers in history.
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Considered the "most important Blues musician who ever lived".
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Hart Wand published the first widely recognized Blues song this year, "Dallas Blues".
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Okeh Records was one of the biggest and most influential in the Blues era!
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"The Jazz Hounds" with Mamie Smith recorded "Crazy Blues" written by Perry Bradford. In its first year it sold over one million copies!
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Bessie Smith was one of the most popular female Blues artists and performed with legends like Louis Armstrong! At her peak she earned over $2000/week for performances alone!
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An incredibly popular Blues song is released. It starts to shift over to Jazz from Blues
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Bessie Smith's hit cemented her into her position as "Empress of Blues"
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Around 1940-50 WWII was raging, and change in all things was inevitable. Blues artists started using more electrified jazz or rock instruments and moving away from the classic Delta Blues.
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In the 1950s, the urbanization of Blues music happen as a slow shift to northern urban states from the deep south occur.
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Mannish Boy, by Muddy Waters was one of his greatest hits. It's a Blues classic.
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"Hellbound on my Trail" is one of the most influential, if not the most, Delta Blues song ever made.
