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The music of blues began around the early 1900s and was starting to decline around the 1960s when rock and roll became more prominent.
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W.C. Handy is known as the creator of blues and has one of the first recorded songs which is called "Memphis Blues". -
During the beginning of World War One, military mobilization exposed African Americans to blues music which grew a tremendous following.
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Blues around the 1920s was strictly instrumental until the release of Mamie Smith's song "Crazy Blues".
Timetoast -
There are many forms of blues music and Delta Blues was one of the first forms to appear around the late 1920s.
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It wasn't long after Mamie Smith's song that encouraged people and even record labels to find similar artists. Said record label, Columbia Records, found a woman named Bessie Smith who became extremely popular. -
"Long Lonesome Blues” the first song recorded by Blind Lemon Jefferson, a prominent musician in the late 20's, became a hit in May 1926. -
Chigaco Blues was a form that evolved during the Great Depression. When African Americans traveled North they typically stopped in New York and Chigaco. -
This prominent artist was significant to the genre in the sense that he gave it a wide reach into the white population. -
Despite his incredible influence and impact on blues, Johnson met his untimely end after performing a gig. Despite this, he was often known as the King of the Delta Blues. -
During 1920-40, Beale Street was a launching point for Memphis Blues and many aspiring musicians such as Memphis Minnie. -
Jump Blues evolved from the Big Band era around the Great Depression and economic hardships. It was extremely popular from 1940 to 1950.
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This was the first radio show to air blues music and even show live blues performances. -
When soldiers began coming home after the First World War, blues musical popularity increased significantly. Artists such as T-Bone Walker gained more influence. -
Around the 1960s younger white musicians took inspiration from Delta and Chicago blues to create a heavy more amplified version of blues. One prominent group of musicians is ZZ Top.