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In 1901 an archaeologist from Mississippi described some of the African American workers songs that they would often sing that had a lot of the same qualities of blues.
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W.C handy was the first person to write about blues music. He was sleeping in a train station and saw a guy playing blues music with a guitar and pocket knife. He was forever changed and went on to be one of the most popular blues players.
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Handy's Memphis Blues by W.C is published. This is the very first blues song to be published.
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The first recording of a blues song, but also the first recording of an African American singing.
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This record company came to be one of the most popular and successful blues recording companies. They targeted an audience of African Americans and they gave many people the chance to have thier music recorded and heard.
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Bessie Smith records her first blues song, "Downhearted Blues" and she is an instant hit. She is known as the "Queen of Blues music."
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This song is the begining of a trend called urban blues. Many songs after this one began taking on the same sound.
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The electric guitar was made by Rickenbacker. This guitar changed the songs of blues.
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Les Paul was a blues player, and singer. The log was the first full body guitar.
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This mainly blues recording studio was founded in Memphis Tennessee. They founded many singers such as Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Howlin' Wolf.
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In the begining of blues most of the listeners and singers were African American. During this time the auidience started shifting and more and more whites were listening to Blues.
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Elvis got his start by recording a very popular blues song by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup.
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This festival was a popular spot for very many blues players to have the chance to show people thier music. Some of the people who attended were the Allman Brothers, John Lee Hooker, and and Skip James.
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Colobia Records release of these songs sparked the popularity of blues music in England.
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The blues hall of fame was founded in Memphin Tennessee. Some people who were inducted include B.B King, Muddy Waters, and Albert King.
