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Slave songs were the earliest form of blues, where slaves in the United States started to write music about their lives and the conditions they were living in. -
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A book that consisted of 136 African-American songs, that were sung by slaves working the Southern plantations. It is considered the most influential publication of spirituals and folk songs ever published. -
Scott Joplin publishes "Maple Leaf Rag", which influenced the development of early Blues. -
The first piece of Blues music was published. It was "I got the Blues" by Antonio Maggio. -
The first blues songs, including "Memphis Blues" by W.C. Handy, are published as sheet music. -
When the United States entered World War I, the internal migration of African-Americans exposed American troops to blues music, leading to a blues music outburst. -
Mamie Smith's record "Crazy Blues" is also one of the earliest blues music, and started using the term "race" recording. -
Electrical recording technology is introduced and makes blues music available for a wider audience.
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During the Great Depression, Southern African-Americans migrated North. Chicago Blues was created and was more powerful than all types before. -
The first recording of an electric guitar was played by Eddie Durnham.
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Blues popularity increased after soldier returned home from war. John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, T-Bone Walker, and others began to gain influence. -
B.B. King, known as a Blues legend, had his first major rhythm and blues hit with his piece "Three O'Clock Blues." -
Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Big Mamma Thornton, Lightning Hopkins, and Jimmy Smith begin the modern blues that we know today.
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Muddy Waters and B.B. King perform at the Fillmore East, to a predominantly white audience. -
Congress declared 2003 the "Year of the Blues," commemorating the 100th anniversary of W.C. Handy's inspiration from an unknown early bluesman at a train station.