Buddy Guy’s Legends has received the “Best of City Search” award for 3 consecutive years. Buddy Guy’s is in the process of moving into a new space, but will continue until it is time to crack open the doors. Check out their website for upcoming shows and events. Who knows you may find your favorite band to be pipping out their greatest hits while you are visiting the “Windy” city. In the mood for a little snack, check out the menu filled with tons of great appetizers, sandwiches and more. You won’t be disappointed with this visit to Chicago.

A little side note, Buddy Guy is a five time Grammy winner and loves to share with everyone that steps foot in his great establishment. So hop on in and say HI.

We can’t forget to mention one of the top of the line Chicago Blues Bars, The Park Grill, named for the Best Burger of 2008 in the “Windy” city. So if you have a craving, hop on over and sink your teeth into a burger tonight. This restaurant is located at the gate way to “Millennium Park” If you would like a window seat, don’t be late, make a reservation right away. Hop on their website and see what events are coming up.

No Chicago blues bars trip would be complete with out a stop at “The House of Blues” Musicians from all over flock to play at the “House of Blues” On Sundays, there is an event hosted called “Gospel Brunch” Prices range from $15.00-$40.00, call a head to know for sure.

Don’t forget to check out the Kingston Mines. There website is very lively and full of energy, makes you feel like you are right there enjoying the space with everyone. This great night life spot began its life as a coffee house back in 1968. It immediately found new life with in the blues. Enjoy the great music, great food and of course the booze. Check the site for up coming events.

Make sure you stop in and check out the City of Chicago’s tourism center to get even more great information about Chicago blues bars. Your trip must haves may just come from there for your tour of this great city. Chicago is filled with lots of rich history and music. Get your fill of this “Windy” city on your next vacation. You are sure not to be disappointed in what you find. Great music, great food, great views and the best history that money can buy.

Places like Kingston Mines and B.L.U.E.S. are located in the famous Blues Alley District by Halsted and the famous and cozy Rosa’s Lounge is a short walk away. Also keeping blues in Chicago going strong are places like Buddy Guys Legends and the historic Checkerboard Lounge on Chicago’s South Side. There are numereous other blues establishments in the city and suburbs.

Blues in Chicago got its start probably in the pre-Depression era when folks were migrating North from the Southern Mississippi Delta region. People were lured to the big city thinking of better jobs, houses and more opportunities. It did work out for many but not all. People brought with them their dreams, Southern hospitality and their love of music. Big city life meant night life and there were plenty of places for entertainment in Chicago.

Blues changed dramatically in the 1940’s but particularly blues in Chicago with the advent of electric guitar.
Styles of blues were:
traditional
jump
electric

The electric style of blues is without a doubt what made Chicago famous. BB King and his “Lucille” and Buddy Guy made the Chicago electric blues style a household word by the late 50’s and early 60’s. The blues were more then just music and notes. It was an emotional outlet and a creative outpouring that could easily capivate and mesmerize an audience of two or twenty thousand. Blues transcended being a music genre and became more of a culture and life style to many.

There are so many ways to enjoy the blues in Chicago. The city is loaded with neighborhood pubs that play blues music live on a nightly basis so people can hang out with friends after work, eat a good home-cooked meal and catch up on conversation while listening to some up and coming blues talent. There are annual blues festivals every year at Grant or Lincoln Park not to mention all the concert venues in and around the city.

Next time you are in the Midwest, you absolutely have to make a stop in the “City of Big Shoulders”, Chicago, and check out the finest blues entertainment in the whole wide world! You will not be disappointed. If you are not a blues fan yet you certainly will find yourself tapping your feet and swaying to the music.

There is plenty of room for improvisation and innovation for all those who wish to learn to play the blues guitar. With such wonderful talent and aspiring guitar enthusiasts who are passionate about playing the blues, hopefully they will follow in the footsteps of the greats. Guitarists feel a sense of freedom and motivation while learning to play the blues guitar. It’s been said that the blues is purest type of music; no wonder why aspiring musicians have a zest for learning how to play the blues guitar.

Don’t be under the impression that learning to play the blues guitar is an unattainable task. Although one needs to gain knowledge of different styles and chords, there’s no need to spend years in school to become a musical genius. It is definitely not a complicated process. There are CD’s, DVD’s, and online courses available that make learning both enjoyable and rewarding.

Blue Guitar basically brings together sounds, pitch, the richness and texture of various musical instruments from diverse cultures and continents. Latin guitar from the European continent is one of the patterns. The origin of the banjo and the guitar can be found in the Middle Eastern regions. The sound produced by the African instruments is what motivated American designers to come up with something innovative and rocking. American designers have basically used different strings with varied styles. The fusion of all these strings produces an amazing sound known as blues guitar.

The Internet offers ample opportunities for both amateurs and experts to learn the blues guitar. Although there is abundant information regarding this pursuit, it is not always easy to find software that suits yours requirements. So be selective and take your time. It is very important that you get the basics right, so start slowly and work you way up. In a short time you will be able to hear the improvement that you have made in playing the guitar.

Early Life

George “Buddy” Guy was born on July 30, 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana, and he grew up in a poor environment. Rather than face a life of manual labor under the hot Louisiana sun, Guy learned the guitar as a child and played it religiously. His aspirations to become one of the world’s best musicians were met with resistance by those close to him, but he persevered and continued to hone his skills.

Guy bounced around “gin joints” in Louisiana as a young man, most often in Baton Rouge, but soon decided that he needed to move to a big city to really make his mark. That’s exactly what he did in 1957, when he moved to Chicago at the age of 21.

Career Beginnings

Upon arriving in Chicago, Guy fell under the influence of who many consider to be his predecessor on the Chicago blues scene, Muddy Waters. The following year, Guy won a local guitar competition that earned him his first record deal. However, his early career was difficult, as his style was not accepted by his labels. Guy was more of a free-wheeling guitar player who tended to improvise both in the studio and on the stage, but his managers demanded a more conservative, “by the book” approach to all of his work.

Guy tended to retreat to the stage for his artistic escape, as many of his early singles were not even released, and Buddy Guy tickets soon became a hot item in Chicago and in other venues around the United States. Basically, he made a name for himself more as a live performer than a recording artist, and eventually his reputation spread around the world, and led him to a series of shows in Europe.

Success and Influence

Guy’s presence and style was finally met with acceptance as his live shows continued to draw big crowds, and his talent influenced the likes of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and the Rolling Stones, among others. Clapton in particular credits Guy as being his biggest influence and one of the greatest musicians he has ever seen.

Overall, Guy’s on-stage success ultimately followed him to the recording studio, and he has become a multiple award-winning recording artist. However, Guy is still all about his improvisational live performances, and Buddy Guy tickets will treat you to a guaranteed night of soul-stirring blues.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/buddy-guy-tickets-blues-legen

d-is-still-rocking-after-all-these-years-103808.html

About the Author:
Written by Jay Nault, sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/ . StubHub sells Buddy Guy tickets, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event in the world.

Author: Jay Nault

Blues music is a little different. The first blues notes were played on the acoustic blues guitar but even the old blues musicians got hold of the electric guitar. I think it’s a sad story because the acoustic blues guitar produced some great blues music.

Back in Chicago in the 1930’s or so there was a movement that was growing. People were enthusiastic when blues musicians from the Mississippi delta area brought their music to the streets and cafes from Chicago. Muddy Waters and Son House were huge stars in Chicago and they would play that acoustic blues guitar until people were just going wild.

The acoustic blues guitar became unpopular when people like Howling Wolf came along and replaced their acoustic guitar by an electric guitar. Wolf and other artists started recording classic acoustic blues guitar hits on electric guitars and that was the music that got out to the people. Soon Son House and the others were relics and Robert Johnson and that famous picture of him and his acoustic blues guitar became treasured pieces of the past.

Jimi Brought It Back For A Little While

For many years the electric guitar ruled the blues world and then Jimi Hendrix decided to record a short movie of himself playing an acoustic blues guitar and for just a little while we got to hear as close to the modern equivalent of those old classics that we will hear. As Jimi fired through Here My Train A Comin’ it was just like being on the delta near the turn of the century when Robert Johnson would travel from small bar to small bar just to make a living playing his guitar. It was a great time that is lost forever.

The acoustic guitar gets its due once in a while on blues and rock records but it will never be a main instrument like it used to be all of those years ago. The sound can never be mistaken and the music played on it was right from the heart and we will never hear music played like that ever again.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/jimi-hendrix-let-the-acous

tic-blues-guitar-revive-385217.html

Join me as I examine the joys of blues guitar and the major influence it has had on modern day music. Learn how to make your guitar sing out what you’re feeling. Learn how to play with blues rhythm and try out some new chords and strumming patterns.

Blues - Soul Food

Blues guitar music is one of the most intriguing and fascinating music genre that is out there. It features a colourful history, interesting people and a way of expressing feelings unlike any other style of music. In essence, blues tells a story of one’s life experiences and has diverse themes ranging from travel to modern day events.

Blues isn’t as decorated as other genres of music. It is raw and uncensored and as far as the guitar is concerned, one of the finest venues to let your creativity soar. You will not be criticised for your technique here, instead, you will be complimented for your ingenuity. Within the realm of blues guitar, there are many different sub-specialties. There is delta blues and many more

A lot of blues guitarists fail to understand is that legendary players such as BB King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton were all blues players. Many of their songs were inspired by blues and produced a completely original and new generation of pumped up guitarists. Unfortunately, a lot people fail to arrive at that association and blues is oftentimes underrated by aspiring guitarists. The reality is that blues is only what you make it.

While I respect and understand those who decide not to play blues, I have little tolerance for ignorance. You have heard it said over and over again that blues has always been the cornerstone for many of your favourite styles that you love today. Blues lead guitar playing uses a multifaceted approach that is established upon smooth bends, hammer on’s, pull off’s and many other standard techniques. The way they are ultimately played and delivered is what sets blues apart. First off, blues rarely, if ever, follows a single one set rule.

However, there are numerous approach patterns that have made blues famous. You can branch out from these patterns into your own unique style. Ultimately, you can make anything sound bluesy with some simple scales. There are various kinds of blues scales. Many are derived from the pentatonic scale. However, a true blues scale has what is called a blue note. A blues note means a drop in pitch located on the 3rd, 5th, or 7th tone of the scale. If this flatted note isn’t included in the key signature, an accidental will be used to tell you to play that note as a flat.

That scratches the tip of blues scales and there are many other variations. I encourage you to go to your local store to buy a scale book to hone your skills and see the other blues scales available. I will also encourage you to purchase professional blues guitar backing tracks to take your blues playing to the next level.

Zack Roberts is the founder of 50 Blues Music Studios. He is a professional full time musician and guitar instructor, specializing in classic blues and rock music. He also runs a recording studio in Jersey City, NJ Together with his band, he has recorded over 50 of the best Blues Backing Tracks for professional musicians. In under 3 minutes, you’ll uncover the #1 proven method of improving your blues playing. Are you a blues musician? Get over 50 professional blues backing tracks at : http://www.50Blues.com See how these blues backing tracks will fuel your creativity and passion to inspire you to play killer blues riffs and licks. Just imagine having the best acoustic and electric blues bands to jam with you, anytime, anywhere! Its the #1 secret weapon for blues guitarists, harmonica and harp musicians. Visit our website to find out more - Listen to Free Blues Backing Tracks Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zack_Roberts

In the history of the guitar blues there have been some great players and fortunately many of those great players are still with us today. Whether you prefer smooth guitar blues or whether you like to have your guitar blues smash you in the face there have been players to oblige you and to entertain you for over a century now. Here is a quick look at some guitar blues players that have made an impact.

BB King

BB King has been playing guitar blues for over 60 years and is one of the standards that people use when they talk about guitar blues players. He has recorded with such great bands as U2 and is best known for his trademark hollow body electric guitar he calls Lucille. He was originally called the Beale Street Blues Boy but before his first record came out the record company shortened it to BB and used his real last name of King to create the name BB King. In over 60 years BB King has played his smooth style of blues all over the world.

Eric Clapton

Known simply as “Slow Hand”, Eric Clapton is a self taught guitar prodigy who got his start in the famous 1960’s hard rock blues band Cream. After Cream disbanded he went on to form such acts as Derrick And The Dominoes but Clapton was always displaying his trademark slow hand smooth guitar blues style somewhere in the world. Recently Cream was reunited for a few shows and it is unknown whether or not they will stay together but even without a reunited Cream Eric Clapton has still left his mark as one of the greatest guitar blues players ever.

Robert Johnson

It is difficult to talk about guitar blues players without talking about the man that greats such as Jimi Hendrix and Muddy Waters cite as one of their prime influences. Robert Johnson was born in 1911 and died in 1938 but in between there he recorded and released at least a half dozen or more records that survive today as an example of the talent and vision that Johnson had. He lived the blues and, by some accounts, died because of the blues and Robert Johnson is the place where most blues is said to have come from.

Jimi Hendrix

For some reason Jimi Hendrix is never given his due as the master guitar blues player that he was because many people cannot see past his use of sound and energy on the electric guitar. But everything Jimi did was based in the blues and many of his more popular songs are simply blues songs done Jimi’s way and there is nothing wrong with that.

In his youth he played on street corners for dimes and pennies! He was born on 16 September, 1925 on a plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, near Indianola. He spent his youth playing on street corners for dimes. Today B.B. King (Riley B. King) averages 250 ‘packed to the rafters’ concerts around the world each and every year.

In 1947, he hitchhiked to Memphis, Tennessee to pursue his music career and it is first love. His first major break came in 1948 when he performed on Sonny Boy Williamson’s radio broadcast. As the years well by, King has developed one of the world’s most identifiable guitar styles.

He borrowed from Blind Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker and others, incorporating his distinct and complex voice-like string blends and his left-handed vibrato, both of which have become vital components of a blues guitarist’s vocabulary. His economy, his every-note-counts phrasing, has been a model for thousands of players from Eric Clapton and George Harrison to Jeff Beck.

In the mid-1950s, two men got into a fight during one of King’s performances. The men knocked over a kerosene stove and set fire to the venue. King raced outdoors to safety and then realised he’d left his beloved acoustic guitar behind. He rushed back in to retrieve it and almost lost his life. He found out later that the fight had been over a woman.

He named his guitar Lucille to remind him to never do a crazy thing like fight for a woman. Ever since, each one of King’s guitars has been called Lucille. Does your guitar have a name?

Zack Roberts is the founder of 50 Blues Music Studios. He is a professional full time musician and guitar instructor, specializing in classic blues and rock music. He also runs a recording studio in Jersey City, NJ Together with his band, he has recorded over 50 of the best Blues Backing Tracks for professional musicians. In under 3 minutes, you’ll uncover the #1 proven method of improving your blues playing. Are you a blues musician? Get over 50 professional blues backing tracks at : http://www.50Blues.com See how these blues backing tracks will fuel your creativity and passion to inspire you to play killer blues riffs and licks. Just imagine having the best acoustic and electric blues bands to jam with you, anytime, anywhere! Its the #1 secret weapon for blues guitarists, harmonica and harp musicians. Visit our website to find out more - Listen to Free Blues Backing Tracks Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zack_Roberts

The blues seems to be a hard genre of music to be into these days, especially when you’re in your 20s, but its one of my passions. Few other genres can boast such pure unadulterated emotion in its rawest form. I came to the blues through modern rock, oddly enough. Growing up in the grunge and post grunge era I listened to a lot of alternative rock and more recently, bands of the garage rock movement. After hearing the White Stripes and the Strokes, I rediscovered classic rock, garage rock, and early rock and roll. From there I found the influences of rock and roll, the blues.

By tracing a small history of the blues through the years I hope to help others discover this amazing genre and to help keep the early blues masters alive in spirit. This is only a partial guide of course as no one could possible trace an entire lineage. Mostly I’ve highlighted artists who’s music has influenced me, enhanced the genre and kept the spirit of the blues alive.

First:Its important to understand a little background as to why people like the blues. Blues typically is a story, usually a story of heartbreak or some other pain that is easy to relate to. The original blues artists began playing music on the streets in the south and the songs were often sang off the cuff in order to tell a story or even preach religious messages. This idea of a story and being easy to relate to is a major part of its attraction. Everyone can identify with the pain of a lost love and so this often serves as the basis for many blues songs. Not only can people relate to it, but its content creates for a dynamic performance that comes from the soul and raw emotion. People are often inspired by the tales of blues songs to “get into the music” and often this leads to elaborate improvisations as the performers become emotionally connected to the performance. This aspect has remained unchanged since its beginning. This is why I love the blues, and why after listening to thousands of different bands and genres, the music I continue to play and listen to the most is blues.

In the beginning:Early on in the 1800s, is when the blues began. African-Americans of the south passed down their music orally and soon became entwined with the folk music of America at the time. This combination produced some of the original blues musicians and recordings. Featuring simple acoustic guitars and folk songs, these artists often sang about what they knew of a hard life, and of religion. In the 20s and 30s artists like Charley Patton, Lonnie Johnson, Son House and others have some of the original “blues” recordings. These performances and recordings are often rough, heavily improvised and as raw as can be so they can be hard to get into. Here are some highlights of this time: Son House, who’s take on blues and folk is so intense and emotional that it rivals any other musical recording or genre to this day; Blind Willie McTell, who’s guitar work is intricate, unique and imitated ever since; Blind lemon Jefferson, who’s gospel blues, rough voice and evangelist nature could make your spine tingle; and Leadbelly, who although known more as a folk musician, along with Woodie Guthrie, wrote some of the most influential American music in history.

The Embodiment:When talking about the blues it seems that only one man ever comes to mind as the absolute embodiment of the genre, the emotion, and the lifestyle: Robert Johnson. Considered by many to be the absolute pinnacle of this genre, his life was often steeped in mystery and legend. Playing and recording in the 30s and 40s along with Son House and others, it was rumored that in order to become so good at the blues and guitar, Johnson had to sell his soul to the devil at the crossroads (later written about in songs and numerous other legends). With such classics as “Sweet Home Chicago”, “Love in Vain” and “Stop Breaking Down”, all of which were covered by many other musicians, Johnson’s music can be seen as the cornerstone on which all later blues it built. Quite simply put, if you’re into blues and you don’t know Robert Johnson, you don’t know blues.

The Electrification:In the 1950s after the development of the first electric guitars and amplifiers, the blues gained a new generation of players. The electric guitar would remain the instrument of choice for years to come in the blues genre but the original pioneers still produced some of the best music ever made. Electric blues also became more diverse based on geography with styles ranging from Texas and Chicago being significantly different. Chicago blues is the most well know form of blues it seems with great artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy and Willie Dixon raising the bar to a new standard for blues music where the emphasis was on soul, emotion, raw intensity and the beginnings of rock and roll. In Texas blues music was more twangy and country influenced than the club based Chicago blues. Great artists include Albert Collins, Freddie King, T-Bone walker, and Lightning Hopkins. Personal favorites of mine include Buddy Guy, Elmore James, T-Bone Walker, and Willie Dixon.

The King:One of the most influential guitarist of all time, B.B. King cannot be mentioned without automatically thinking about the blues. One of the most successful blues artists, B.B. King is also known for crossing over to different genres, including rock and roll, jazz and country. His contribution to guitarists everywhere is massive. Known for his highly emotive style with the goal being not to play super fast or super loud, but with the most soul and emotion possible. With “Lucille” (King’s guitar) he developed a musical skill that sounded as if the guitar itself was singing and weeping. His music has come along way from the blues of the early masters, but throughout all of his career, the music always seems to be just dripping with emotion. If emotion is the measure of successful blues, then B.B. King is definitely the king.

The Master, the God, and the Rocker:In the 1960s, there was a musical revolution going on where old blues records were being discovered by the younger generation. This impact spurred the development of some of the most influential artists of all time. Not generally classified as blues players, their contributions to the genre can not be discounted.

The Master:In the late 60s perhaps the greatest guitarist whoever has or will live came onto the scene: Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix’s music was firmly in the rock and roll realm in the late 1960s but his guitar playing is designed around the playing of the past masters. Emotive and expressive Hendrix was known for performing elaborate jams and freak outs on stage including noise solos, improvisation sessions, playing with his teeth and lighting his guitar on fire. Still, on the most basic of blues songs Hendrix could make his guitar scream, swoon or weep at will based on the emotions of the song. Although primarily not a blues player, Jimi Hendrix, along with other artists, helped to revitalize blues, introduce new jazz and rock and roll concepts and further expand the genre while remaining loyal to it.

The God:Seen by many as a guitar god of his time, Eric Clapton and his music is responsible for the major portion of blues revival in the 1960s. A blues purest, Clapton’s music is true to the original electric blues format most often, but also expands to include country flavors, reggae, psychedelic, and folk. With Cream, Derek and the Dominoes and on his solo records of the 70s Clapton has committed to record some of the most well known rock and roll, and blues solos of all time. New takes on Robert Johnson classics like “Crossroads” helped a new generation to discover the great artists of the past. Whether you’re new to blues or not, when it comes to memorable and powerful guitar playing there is no doubting that “Clapton is God”.

The Rocker:Also to come out of the 1960s was another young blues player who would take the genre as a basis for a new form of music. Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin took blues from powerful and emotional to stadium rock and paved the way for the first heavy metal artists. Led Zeppelin was true to the blues tradition but unlike Clapton, Led Zeppelin picked up where Jimi Hendrix left off when he died. They turned their amps up to ten and played loud, raunchy versions of traditional and rewritten blues songs along with their own heavy rock and roll. Led Zeppelin proved to be a major force through the 1970s led by the guitar work of Jimmy Page, who ranged from traditional folk and folk blues, through the heavy blues they pioneered, all the way to the first metal and hard rock sounds. Although innovative, its hard to miss the traditional blues framework underlying most Led Zeppelin songs. Even in the heaviest musical acts to follow their lead, there are traces of the blues influence.

These three artists represent three of my favorite artists of all time. Although they are well known and mainstream classic rock, all three had a profound effects on how the future generations viewed blues music that is often overlooked.

The Reviver:After the break up of Led Zeppelin, blues continued to be upheld by some of their classic rock brethren (Aerosmith, AC/DC), but not as much with new bands. In the 1980s though, there was a new guitarist on the scene who would revitalize and inspire a new generation of blues artists. Stevie Ray Vaughan both reinvented and revived the blues in the 80s and 90s. With a Texas blues style that combined traditional blues forms with a Texas shuffle and bits of jazz flourishes, Vaughan helped to restore blues to the mainstream. Although his career was cut short, his influence was huge in helping to remind rock and roll guitarists that blues was where everything started out. His music was a revitalization for blues music, but also showed everyone that not only can blues make you cry, but it can make you clap your hands, stomp your feet and dance just like rock and roll. Stevie Ray Vaughan is a must for any blues enthusiast or budding guitarist.

The Newest Followers:The 1990s and 2000s saw both the birth and death of grunge and the more recent garage rock revival. When it comes to grunge Kurt Cobain was the driving force. Although grunge was a blend of styles, at its heart is an emotional and powerful style like blues. Cobain’s writing was as emotional as any blues artist and has been nearly as influential. His band, Nirvana, was know to cover Led Zeppelin and even Leadbelly in their day, demonstrating that although grunge lacked some of the swagger and feel of traditional blues, the two were in a way, cut from the same cloth. With garage rock’s revival in the post grunge era there came a new band leading the way. The White Stripes represent blues that has both pushed into new territory and come full circle. With a stripped down sound and covers of some of the earliest blues musicians (Son House, Leadbelly), the White Stripes are effectively returning to the roots of blues music. At the same time guitarist Jack White uses heavily overdriven guitars and a rough, minimalist sound reminiscent of the beginnings of punk (the Stooges, the Velvet Underground, the Ramones). This combination takes these early blues artists and presents them in a new way just like Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page did years earlier. The White Stripes have effectively forged new ground and returned rock and roll’s blues roots in one fell swoop. Although both of these bands are not traditional blues, I hear blues influences in both of them and listening to their music is what lead me to backtrack my way to the original blues artists.

In Conclusion:I guess its safe to say that the blues will never die as there will always be musicians and enthusiasts willing to carry on the tradition. With this article I hope to expose some people who are new to this genre, or even seasoned blues veterans, to some new ideas and new ways that we’re keeping the blues spirit alive. As a blues enthusiast, I hope that some new people can grow to love this musical genre as much as I do as I look forward to new takes on the genre in the future.

If you’re interested in learning more about any of these artists, check our www.allmusic.com as its a great musical guide and can provide both album reviews and background information.

References Include: www.allmusic.com (for days and historical information)My music collection for artistic interpretation.

Blues is probably the purest American music ever produced – and along with its jazz counterpart – is the only true American music form. Its roots lie in the work songs of West African slaves in the South. When they toiled hard in the fields of South plantation owners, these slaves built a ‘call and response’ method of singing, thus lending rhythm to the drudgery of their lives. These came to be called ‘field hollers’ and became the basis of all blues music to follow. After the Civil War ended, the blacks could either work as field labor or become traveling minstrels. So quite a few ended up being the latter – performing at all-nighters, fish-frys and juke joints, relying on their stamina and mental repertoire of many blues songs.
Powerful Blues Music Is Officially Born
While the lyrics of blues songs seem soulful and sad, the music itself is quite powerful and emotive – filled with rhythm and celebrating the life of black Americans. What makes this kind of music appealing is its reflection of their daily lives, talking about sex, drinking, poverty, love lost, hard labor – anything they experienced.
Among the first documented blues is W C Handy’s “Memphis Blues” in 1909. The music grew in popularity and when the 78-RPM phonograph came in the late 1920’s Paramount, Aristocrat and other record labels recorded some of the famous country blues artists. Around 1941-1943, field recordings of blues men were made in their surroundings by famous blues folklorist Alan Lomax. This is significant because that’s how the white folks got introduced to the blues. Budding artists got exposure to some national record labels.
Blues Travels North
The blacks migrated North during the Great Depression along the route of the Illinois Central Railroad toward Chicago, bringing with them blues music. With huge crowds gathering to enjoy this, performers like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf switched to electric guitars and also included drum sets to their bands. This became even more powerful than the original blues. There was a lull until the late 1950’s when The Kingston Trio recorded the chart topper, Tom Dooley, and gave birth to the folk revival in 1958. The Newport Folk Festival then brought back folk and blues music to the white American people till 1966.
What followed later was a merging of blues with rock – forming the rock blues bands of the 1960s and 1970s. Some artists faithful to the form were The Rolling Stones, John Mayall, Led Zeppelin.
Types of Blues Music
There are four types of blues music. The Deltas blues is said to be the original – being played by the black men from the Mississippi delta region, using the piano or harmonica. The style was a call and response lyrical framing. Then we have the Chicago Blues, which used electric amplification of voice using mics, drum sets and electric guitars. The Texas Blues are similar to the Chicago blues. In the early 1960s originated the Blues-rock, which was directly influenced by the Delta and Chicago blues.