“If You Can’t Dig the Blues You Got a Hole in Your Soul”

“The blues will always be because the blues are the roots of all American music”    -Willie Dixon

The fame of blues music emerged in the 1920’s as a major element of African American music and popular music in general. However, the history of the blues music appeared within the emancipation period of enslaved African people, between the 1870’s-1890’s.

Blues music was prominent in the rural areas of the deep south as the genre infused traditions of negro spirituals, work songs, folk music, and vaudeville music, which all derived from southern plantations. Mississippi has been considered the birth place of blues music.

Most blues music consists of 12 bars and is considered polyrhythmic. It’s unique style of call and response symbolizes an emotional solo phrase that is repeated. The genre of blues also consists of a variety of styles. The Mississippi delta blues were passionate vocals most often accompanied by a guitar. Hokum blues were traditionally comedic lyrical content in more of a performance style. Lastly, boogie-woogie was another style of blues that emerged in the 1930’s and was typically associated with dancing with combinations of pianos and guitars.

The evolution of Blues music became a major element in American music in the 1920’s. Blind Lemon Jefferson became a prominent blues artists in the 1920’s and became known as the “Father of the Texas Blues.” [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yd-c91ww8[/embedyt] Sadly, whites such as Elvis Presley and Mick Jagger captured blues music and altered the historic context of the music. Artists such as those listed above became extremely successful and neglected the African-American originators of the music. The commercialization of blues music gave way to Chicago Jazz and  rock & roll music.

Blues music captured the souls of many Americans dating as far back as the late 1800’s. The style of Blues music engulfed the emotions of the singer in a personable, producing passion filled lyrics that became relatable to people across the country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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