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Slave Songs
When the Civil War began the Blues started to develop as slaves began to sing about their harsh quality of life. -
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Major events in Blues History
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Slave Songs of the United States
Considered a staple book within the folk and spiritual music genres, the "Slave Songs of the United States" was published and comprised of 136 songs that were sung by southern plantation workers. -
Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin published "Maple Leaf Rag" which highly influenced the early Blues. -
Blues Begins
The first blues songs are published as sheet music, including W.C Handy's "Memphis Blues". -
U.S joins WW1
The war affected the economy and military marshaling which led to the internal migration of African Americans. This led to many white Americans' exposure to the Blues. -
Mamie Smith
The first solo African American recording was Mamie Smith's cover of "Crazy Blues" by Perry Bradford. This version sold over 1,000,000 copies in its release year. -
Big Bill Broonzy
As a bluesman from Mississippi, he moved to Chicago and was a large contributor to the creation of Chicago Blues. -
Slide guitar
From Kentucky, Sylvester Weaver is known as the first to record slide guitar which was done with a knife or a bottle top. -
Amplified technology
For the first time, electrical recording technology was introduced and expanded the genre's audience. -
Races collide
Lead Belly or Huddie Ledbetter was the first Blues artist to perform for a white audience beyond the South. -
Robert Johnson
Delta Blues artist Robert Johnson was an important piece to the Blues development despite his short recording career. -
Electric Guitar
The first electric guitar was recorded and played by Eddie Durnham. This instrument added body and power to music, especially the Blues -
WW2 Ends
Soldiers returned home from WW2 and enhanced the popularity of Blues. This initiated the influence that Robert Johnson and T-Bone Walker had. -
"King"
Known as one of the most influential Blues guitarists, BB King released his first major Blues hit which was a cover of "Three O'Clock Blues". -
A New Direction
Blues artists including Muddy Waters, Jimmy Smith, and Big Mama Thorton begin to shape the modern blues that is familiar today.