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Blues music was formed post-Civil War in the Deep South. It derives from African American work songs, minstrel show music, ragtime, and church songs.
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Early blues music was still deeply rooted in the Deep South during this period.
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Robert Johnson, one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, is born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. His recordings from the late 1930s have a profound impact on future generations of blues and rock musicians.
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In 1912, an African American bandleader by the name of W.C. Handy released the song "Memphis Blues". This song was very well received and Tin Pan Alley songs derived and gained inspiration from this song.
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From the 1920s to the 1930s, Rural Blues gained popularity. With roots from Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas, and Mississippi, this subgenre of Blues is commonly seen as more upbeat and melodic than other Blues subgenres.
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The Great Migration brings millions of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North, spreading blues music to cities like Chicago, Detroit, and New York.
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Mamie Smith records "Crazy Blues," widely considered the first blues record, leading to the popularization of blues music among a wider audience.
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Alan Lomax records blues musicians such as Muddy Waters, Son House, and Lead Belly during his field recording trips in the Southern United States, preserving the early roots of the blues.
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Chess Records released "Rollin' Stone" by Muddy Waters, which becomes a major hit and inspires the name of the iconic rock band The Rolling Stones.
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B.B. King records "Three O'Clock Blues," launching his career as one of the most renowned blues guitarists and performers.
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Little Walter's instrumental track "Juke" becomes the first blues song to top the Billboard R&B chart, showcasing the popularity of blues harmonica.
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The first Ann Arbor Blues Festival takes place in Michigan, featuring performances by B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, and other blues legends, helping to revive interest in the blues among younger audiences.
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The film "The Blues Brothers," starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, introduces blues music to a new generation and contributes to a resurgence of interest in the genre.
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Stevie Ray Vaughan releases his debut album, "Texas Flood," which revitalizes interest in blues guitar playing and influences a new generation of guitarists.
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The Mississippi Blues Trail is established, featuring markers and sites across Mississippi that commemorate the state's rich blues heritage, preserving its legacy for future generations.