Having always immersed himself in the
Blues derived from and was largely played by Southern Black men, most of whom came from the milieu of agricultural workers. The earliest references to blues date back to the 1890s and early 1900s.
Origins. Hart Wand's "Dallas Blues" was published in 1912; W.C. Handy's "The Memphis Blues" followed in the same year. The first recording by an African American singer was Mamie Smith's 1920 rendition of Perry Bradford's "Crazy Blues".
Here's the original sheet music for the first published "blues" tune - that is, the first published music that 1) had "blues" in the title, and 2) used what we now call a 12-bar blues progression, and 3) had blue notes (i.e, b3) in the melody.
Both genres originated in the Southern United States around the late 1800s to early 1900s, with blues arriving first, then jazz a little later. Both were inventions of African Americans, who combined African musical concepts with European musical concepts, thus making these both uniquely American music genres.
Blues derived from and was largely played by Southern Black men, most of whom came from the milieu of agricultural workers. The earliest references to blues date back to the 1890s and early 1900s.
For his efforts in making Blues famous, W.C. Handy is known as the “Father of the Blues.”
1. B.B. King. Out of the Three Kings of the Blues: Albert King, B.B. King and Freddie King, we'll pick one and that will be Riley aka B.B. This is for one simple reason - he truly is The King of the Blues AND he gave us Lucille! Like most notable artists, B.B. King had humble beginnings.
In the 19th century the English phrase blue devils referred to the upsetting hallucinations brought on by severe alcohol withdrawal. This was later shortened to the blues, which described states of depression and upset, and it was later adopted as the name for the melancholic songs that the musical genre encapsulates.
The first hit blues recordings were instrumental renditions of the W.C. Handy composition, "Memphis Blues," by Prince's Orchestra (Columbia) and the Victor Military Band (directed by Walter Rogers), both of which were released in the fall of 1914.
Rock and roll emerged as a defined musical style in the United States in the early to mid-1950s. It derived most directly from the rhythm and blues music of the 1940s, which itself developed from earlier blues, the beat-heavy jump blues, boogie woogie, up-tempo jazz, and swing music.
In the late 1890s, syncopation joined with soulful melodies, upbeat dance tunes united with the sultry sound of brass instruments, and jazz began to emerge. Buddy Bolden, an African-American bandleader called “the first man of jazz” by historian Donald M Marquis, was at the forefront of the jazz movement.
Led Zeppelin's Blues Roots Led Zeppelin created the blueprint for heavy metal, but much of the Brit rock band's hard-hitting sound was based on American blues. Farai Chideya talks with Led Zeppelin biographer Stephen Davis about how blues music influenced the iconic rock and roll band.
The social significance of Blues music resides in the revolutionary element of African Americans creating their own aesthetics. Blues music represented the opposing voice that refused to be silenced by oppression and segregation. The Blues expressed this with unprecedented clarity, honesty and simplicity.
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major form of musical expression in traditional and popular music.
B.B. King was the undisputed King of the Blues. Part of this was down to his incredible work ethic. Even in his final years, he was still performing 100 concerts a year with his famous guitar he named Lucille.
Chicago. The great city of Chicago has music venues for every taste, but it is particularly known for the Blues. The "Chicago Blues" style came about in the post-World War II-era when many African-American southerners moved to the industrial north in search of jobs.
Born in Vicksburg, deep in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, on July 1, 1915, Willie Dixon was a fixer, arranger, talent scout, boxer, performer, and songwriter who did more to shape the repertoire and sound of post-war Chicago blues than any other person.
Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (née Pridgett; April 26, 1886 – December 22, 1939) was an American blues singer and influential early blues recording artist. Dubbed the "Mother of the Blues", she bridged earlier vaudeville and the authentic expression of southern blues, influencing a generation of blues singers.
When blues guitarists talk about their idols, at least one of these three names is sure to crop up: Albert King, B.B. King, or Freddie King – the three kings of the Blues.
Bobby Rush, 87
In an interview with The New York Times, Rush said that he thinks he might be the oldest blues singer still living today, adding, "If I'm not the oldest, I'm the ugliest."
Blues songs were centred around the pain of loss and injustice but also expressed the victory in outlasting these painful experiences. The music also originated with a slow tempo that has since become faster with its increase in popularity.
Musical Origin of Blues and Jazz
Jazz comes from Calypso, Funk, Soul, and Swing. It's important to know that Blues was around before Jazz; thus, Blues can be considered an element of Jazz music. Jazz is from New Orleans, while Blues is from Mississippi.
During the three years from 1963 through 1965, the Beatles released 19 songs using the 12 bar blues or something comparable; during the five years from 1966 through 1970, only 8.