History of the Blues

By cmathews1
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    History of the Blues

  • First Recorded Black Music

    First Recorded Black Music
    Victor Records issues the first known recording of black music, "Camp Meeting Shouts."

  • First Blues Hit

    First Blues Hit
    Mamie Smith records for Okeh Records. Her "Crazy Blues" becomes the first blues hit, beginning the business of "race" recording.

  • New Recording Technology

    Electrical recording technology is introduced.

  • Blind Lemon Jefforson

    Blind Lemon Jefforson
    Blind Lemon Jefferson is first recorded. He will become the dominant blues figure of the late 1920s and the first star of the folk blues.

  • Robert Johnson Dies

    Robert Johnson Dies
    One of the greatest Blues legends of all time, Robert Johnson, died outide of Greenwood, Mississippi

  • Electric Guitar

    Electric Guitar
    Eddie Durham records the first music featuring the electric guitar. It will be a key factor in transforming the sound of blues

  • Les Paul creates "The Log"

    Les Paul creates "The Log"
    The Log was the first solid-body guitar. It was built with a 4x4 piece of fencepost, with pickups made from pieces of a telephone and an Epiphone body cut in half and glued to either side.

  • BB King

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

  • Country Blues

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

  • Newport Folk Festival Created

    The Newpork Folk Festival became a popular spot for Bluesmen to play, including Howlin' Wolf, The Allman Brothers, John Lee Hooker, and many others,

  • Muddy Waters

    Muddy Waters performs at the Newport Jazz Festival to tremendous acclaim.

  • Robert Johnson Revival

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

  • Rolling Stones Formed As A Blues Band

    Rolling Stones Formed As A Blues Band
    What would become the Rolling Stones formed as a Blues band.

  • British Invasion

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

  • The Blues Hall of Fame Founded

    The Blues Foundation created the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980. It's innagural members are some of the greatest in Blues history: Robert Johnson, John Lee hooker, Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, among many more.