Blues Music

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    Blues Music

  • 'blues'

    The first appearance of the word 'blues' in a piece of music: "The Dallas Blues" by Hart Wand. The story goes that a black porter overheard Hart playing his violin and the porter remarked "That give me the blues to go back to Dallas."
  • Blues and Gospel

    Texas born Blind Willie Johnson records in Dallas, TX. These and all of his subsequent recordings blurred the lines between blues and gospel music.
  • Charley Patton

    Charley Patton
    The early Delta bluesman Charley Patton is first recorded.
  • Great Depression

    The Wall Street Crash of 1929 begins on Black Thursday, signaling the beginning of the Great Depression in the United States. Amid widespread economic ruin, sales of records and phonographs plummet, crippling the recording industry.
  • Robert Johnson

    Robert Johnson
    Legendary Delta bluesman Robert Johnson begins his short recording career.
  • Muddy Waters Recorded

    Legendary Delta bluesman Robert Johnson begins his short recording career.
  • T-bone Walker goes electric

    T-bone Walker goes electric
    Bluesman T-Bone Walker plays electric guitar on the recording of his standard "Call it Stormy Monday."
  • Muddy waters & Chicago blues

    Muddy waters & Chicago blues
    Bluesman T-Bone Walker plays electric guitar on the recording of his standard "Call it Stormy Monday."
  • "Rhythm & Blues" is born

    "Rhythm & Blues" is born
    Bluesman T-Bone Walker plays electric guitar on the recording of his standard "Call it Stormy Monday."
  • B.B King

    B.B King
    B.B. King has his first major rhythm and blues hit with a version of "Three O'Clock Blues."
  • Elvis Debuts

    Elvis Debuts
    Elvis Presley makes his recording debut on Sun Records with a version of Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's "That's All Right."
  • The Country Blues

    Samuel Charters publishes The Country Blues, fueling the blues element of the folk music revival.
  • Muddy Waters Performs

    Muddy Waters Performs
    Muddy Waters performs at the Newport Jazz Festival to tremendous acclaim.
  • Robert Johnson Revival

    Robert Johnson Revival
    John Hammond pushes to have a selection of Robert Johnson's recordings reissued on LP by Columbia.
  • British Invasion

    British Invasion
    The first U.S. tour by the Rolling Stones marks the invasion of British blues rock bands.