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The Origin
The Roots
Not from Africa; developed in America by American slaves and their descendants
Field hollers (cries)
Ballads, from European traditions for songs that tell stories
Unaccompanied solo singing; later guitar and banjo added
By 1910, standardized elements of the blues
By 1930, big influence on jazz music
Musicians imitate the sound of the blues singer
Styles of Blues
Country Blues (Rural) (late 1800-1930)
Characteristics
Solo male singer with guitar, harmonica accompaniment
Personal pessimistic expression
Regional styles-Mississippi delta, Texas, East Coast
Important Performers
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Leadbelly (Huddie Leadbetter)
Robert Johnson
Contemporary Performers
Muddy Waters
influenced hundreds of musicians – Beatles, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton
B.B. King
Bessie Smith - “The Empress” of the Blues – the greatest blues singer of all time.
Set up the standard for other blues singers. Her first single surpassed any of
the other recordings of blues.
Mamie Smith - “Crazy Blues” formula for classic blues - credited with taking the
blues into the popular music.
Styles of Blues
Blues Legacy
Blues recordings sold well, the lyrics told personal stories and national catastrophe,
triumphs and shared miseries of the times
The Greatest Jazz Singers
Billie Holiday - “Lady day”, changed the art of American pop vocals forever
Ella Fitzgerald – "First Lady of Song”, 14 Grammy Awards
George Buddy Guy – student of T-bone Walker – brilliant guitarist – Chicago sound
(Quinn Sullivan!)
Sara Vaughn, Aretha Franklin
Woodstock – Janis Joplin rendition of “Ball in chain”, tune performed by “Big Mama”
Thornton, was a sensation
Rolling Stones, Beatles, Michael Jackson
Jazz and Blues
Blues and Jazz - branches of the same tree
Blues provided the roots for Rock & Roll and R&B