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The Beginning of Blues
Musician W.C. Handy sees a musician on a train picking his guitar with a knife blade singing, ¨Goin Where the Southern Cross the Yellow Dog¨, which inspired W.C. Handy’s blues style. -
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The History of Blues
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¨Mr. Crump¨ by W.C. Handy is one of the first blues songs to be published
W.C. Handy wrote ¨Mr. Crump¨ as a campaign song for white politician E.C. Crump, who wanted to attract more black voters Link to information on W.C. Handy and the Blues--
https://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Tennessee/Memphis/blog-332955.html -
The beginning of race recording
With the help of Mamie Smith’s recording of ¨Crazy Blues¨, the business of race recording blooms. Link to song Crazy Blues--
https://learn.pvschools.net/mod/book/view.php?id=199512&chapterid=71286 -
Bessie Smith and Ma Rainy
Classic blues artists Bessie Smith and Ma Rainy make they're recording debuts. -
The Beginning of Folk Music-June 14, 1923
Ralph Peer debuts the first recordings of folk music. -
The Beginning of electric recording
¨Electrical recording technology is introduced¨ (Shmoop Editorial Team. "Blues Music History Timeline of Important Dates.") -
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Iconic Blues figure Blind Lemon Jefferson records for the first time -
The Great Depression- October 24, 1929-1939
On October 24, 1929, the stock market crashes, marking the start of the great depression. -
Electric Blues
The electric guitar is first introduced into the music of Eddie Durham. -
World War 2 -December 7, 1941
America enters World War 2 after Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese. The war leads to more opportunities for African Americans to serve. Link to information about Pearl Harbor
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Chicago Blues
Muddy Waters begins recording Chicago Blues music, ultimately becoming one of the most popular Chicago Blues figures in history. -
Rhythm and Blues
Editor Jerry Wexler uses the term ¨rhythm and blues¨ to replace the term ¨race recording¨ in Billboard Magazine. -
Brown vs. the Board of Education-May 17, 1954
The supreme court rules to start getting rid of segregation in schools. -
Elvis
Elvis Presley enters the music industry -
The British Invasion- June 1964
The Rolling Stones begin touring the US for the first time, leading to the ¨invasion¨ of British blues rock in America. -
Muddy waters and BB King
2 black artists, Muddy Waters and BB King, perform for a mostly white audience at the Elmore East -
The Year of Blues
2003 is declared the year of blues as it is the 100th anniversary of W.C. Handy's encounter with the black musician who inspired ¨Mr. Crump¨ on the train.
