What Are The Blues?

What is This Thing Called Blues?

The blues, perhaps more than any other music, is jazz's greatest influence. From the time when jazz evolved from the sounds of the Mississippi Delta a little over a century ago right up to the modern jazz of today, the blues has been a benchmark for jazz musicians.

Objectives Of This Lesson ... You should

• Gain a basic understanding of why blues is included in the study of American history/social science

• Gain a deeper insight into blues in American culture

• Gain a deeper understanding of the blues' influence on jazz

• Gain a fundamental understanding of what blues is, how where and by whom it originated, music it has influenced (and been influenced by), and its universal appeal.

• Be able to identify some of the significant contributors to blues music by some of their most popular songs and from historical images image of them.

THE ROOTS OF BLUES MUSIC

No one is quite certain where the blues came from, but most likely this musical genre evolved from the field chants of recently emancipated slaves in the deep South. Because it was considered a "lower" art form, not worthy of the attention of the white establishment, this evolving form of the blues was poorly documented—there is very little for scholars to go on until the sheet-music publication of the first two "official" blues songs, "Dallas Blues" and "The Memphis Blues," in 1912. Early blues songs also contained elements of ragtime, a multi-rhythmic musical genre that pretty much disappeared after the end of World War I.

Open Ended

According to the presentation, why are there so many interpretations about the origins of blues music and its evolution in american society.

The blues and its influence on jazz (and vice versa) from its inception to today cannot be explained by mere words alone; one has to hear their sounds to truly comprehend their meaning. 

The blues and its influence on jazz (and vice versa) from its inception to today cannot be explained by mere words alone; one has to hear their sounds to truly comprehend their meaning. 

MACAVINE HAYES & LITTLE FREDDIE KING Porto, Portugal, 2006. “When these artists spend time together performing on the road, they are inspired to play their best, to pull out old material and write new songs.” Photo courtesy Tim and Denise Duffy

CHICAGO BLUES

When America became embroiled in World War II, it served to increase the exodus of African-Americans from the Southern states northward to cities like St. Louis, Detroit, and Chicago. Former sharecroppers were moving out of the rural areas of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia to find jobs in the growing industrial sector and provide better opportunities for their families.

The next set of slides will look at five (5) pioneers of the Chicago Blues scene.

Ellas McDaniel, known as BO DIBBLEY, was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter and music producer who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, including Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, and the Clash. |Image: © Danny Bollinger/Flickr

McKinley Morganfield, known professionally as MUDDY WATERS, was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician who was an important figure in the post-war blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago blues". His style of playing has been described as "raining down Delta beatitude". 

HOWLIN' WOLF, was a Chicago blues singer, guitarist, and harmonica player. Originally from Mississippi, he moved to Chicago in adulthood and became successful, forming a rivalry with fellow bluesman Muddy Waters. With a booming voice and imposing physical presence, he is one of the best-known Chicago blues artists.

WILLIAM DIXON was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he is perhaps best known as one of the most prolific songwriters of his time.

Ellas McDaniel, known as BO BIDDY, was born in Mississippi in 1928 and moved to Chicago’s South Side with his family when he was just five years old. He was a success story of the Maxwell Street Market, where he played during the summer in the mid-1940s. By the early ’50s he had moved up on the Chicago blues scene, collaborated with big-name artists, and recorded an album that was in instant success. His upbeat and grooving sound is said to be one of the biggest connections to modern rock’n’roll music as he was a major inspiration to artists like Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

Multiple Select

From the presentation you just watched - select two (2) musicians who are considered Chicago Blues' musicians?

• Howlin' Wolf

• The Rolling Stones

• Buddy Guy

• Wille Hicks

• Jimmy Hendrix

Multiple Choice

From the presentation you just watched, what music style did blues music have the greatest influence on?

• Classical Music

• Hip Hop

• Jazz

• None of The Above

Multiple Choice

What world event served to increase the exodus of African-Americans from the Southern states northward to cities like St. Louis, Detroit, and Chicago.

• The Civil War

• The signing of the Emancipation Proclamation

• World War II

• The end of slavery

Multiple Select

Name the two blues songs (as mentioned in the presentation) that became popular because they were printed as sheet music?

• Dallas Blues

• The Memphis Blues

• Down Home Blues

• Mississippi Delta Blues