Growing up in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, the world blues was always preceded by St. Louis. Something about a hockey team and World Cups associated with a sport I don’t follow. But why is our hockey team called the Blues? How did St. Louis become associated with the blues?
Background
St. Louis became a significant hub for the blues due to its geographic and cultural positioning, particularly during the early 20th century. As a gateway between the South and the North, the city witnessed a steady flow of African Americans migrating from rural areas, particularly during the Great Migration. Many of these migrants brought with them the sounds and traditions of Delta blues, which they mixed with urban influences found in St. Louis. The city’s thriving industrial economy and its location along the Mississippi River made it a hotspot for cultural exchange, especially in music. Musicians performed on street corners, in nightclubs, and on riverboats, where the blues became both a form of entertainment and a way to express the struggles and aspirations of Black Americans. The influence of the river, both symbolically and practically, is deeply embedded in the city’s blues tradition.
