The BluesThe Blues

Roots of the BluesAnd Performers

Roots of the BluesAnd Performers

African Roots: Earliest SlavesMany came from the Senegambia region

Present-day Senegal and the GambiaProgressed south over the years into present day Sierra

Leone, Liberia, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria and Cameroon.

Also included area around the mouth of the Congo River

African Roots: Earliest SlavesMany came from the Senegambia region

Present-day Senegal and the GambiaProgressed south over the years into present day Sierra

Leone, Liberia, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria and Cameroon.

Also included area around the mouth of the Congo River

Where the blues Came FromWhere the blues Came From

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Music of SenegambiaMusic of Senegambia

Used drumming, hand clapping and call and response singing styles

Call and Response – a leader, usually strongest singer, improvises and a chorus sings a repeated refrain in unison.

Music is usually a group activity. Drumming music was polyrhythmic, which

carried over into the blues style

Used drumming, hand clapping and call and response singing styles

Call and Response – a leader, usually strongest singer, improvises and a chorus sings a repeated refrain in unison.

Music is usually a group activity. Drumming music was polyrhythmic, which

carried over into the blues style

Coming to AmericaComing to AmericaAfrican influences carried over into the

fields of slaveryAfrican Slaves spent time singing songs

while working

African influences carried over into the fields of slavery

African Slaves spent time singing songs while working

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InstrumentsInstrumentsAvailability of instruments

Post Civil War – became easier to order from catalogsGuitars, Harmonica & Piano became most popular

instruments

TrainingMost performers were trained by watching and mimicking

other performersBlues form was based loosely on the call and response style of

the field hollers Often used the instrument as the response in the song

Availability of instruments Post Civil War – became easier to order from catalogsGuitars, Harmonica & Piano became most popular

instruments

TrainingMost performers were trained by watching and mimicking

other performersBlues form was based loosely on the call and response style of

the field hollers Often used the instrument as the response in the song

RecordingRecordingArtists were given the opportunities to recordAlan Lomax -

went to MS in 1941 to record Delta Blues for the Library of Congress

Recording was often done in homes or warehousesArtists were not used to the short time constraints of

recording an album and had to adjust their playing styles

Usual performances at dances required longer songs

Artists were given the opportunities to recordAlan Lomax -

went to MS in 1941 to record Delta Blues for the Library of Congress

Recording was often done in homes or warehousesArtists were not used to the short time constraints of

recording an album and had to adjust their playing styles

Usual performances at dances required longer songs

Delta BluesDelta BluesAcoustic Guitar StylesSlide guitar - a metal tube put over the

finger and slid across the strings to give a different sound. Based on Hawaiian slide guitarOften used a bottle neck

Son House playing with finger slide

Lap style playingBottles, pen knives, or other metal objects used

Bukka White playing slide guitar on his lapBlack Ace playing with bottle

Acoustic Guitar StylesSlide guitar - a metal tube put over the

finger and slid across the strings to give a different sound. Based on Hawaiian slide guitarOften used a bottle neck

Son House playing with finger slide

Lap style playingBottles, pen knives, or other metal objects used

Bukka White playing slide guitar on his lapBlack Ace playing with bottle

Delta Blues ArtistDelta Blues Artist

Charley Patton Born in 1891 in MississippiConsidered the start of the Delta Blues style

Gravelly and strong voice that could carry for large groups to hear

Very accomplished guitar playingUsed slide guitarHeavy rhythmic accompaniment on guitar

Charley Patton “Shake it and Break it”

Charley Patton Born in 1891 in MississippiConsidered the start of the Delta Blues style

Gravelly and strong voice that could carry for large groups to hear

Very accomplished guitar playingUsed slide guitarHeavy rhythmic accompaniment on guitar

Charley Patton “Shake it and Break it”

Chicago Blues ArtistChicago Blues ArtistMuddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield)

Born April 4, 1915 - in Rolling Fork, MSDied April 30, 1983 - in Chicago, ILHis idol was Son House, a Delta Bluesman

Muddy played the electric guitar and had a very strong voice.

1950 hit “Rollin’ Stone” was the inspiration for a young British band’s name -The Rolling Stones

Had large part in the 1960’s revival of the blues

Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield)Born April 4, 1915 - in Rolling Fork, MSDied April 30, 1983 - in Chicago, ILHis idol was Son House, a Delta Bluesman

Muddy played the electric guitar and had a very strong voice.

1950 hit “Rollin’ Stone” was the inspiration for a young British band’s name -The Rolling Stones

Had large part in the 1960’s revival of the blues

Women Blues ArtistsWomen Blues Artists

Gertrude “Ma” Rainey - “Mother of the Blues”Born Gertrude M. Pridgett on April 26, 1886 in GeorgiaDied December 22, 1939

Began singing professionally as a teenPerformed in minstrel and medicine shows1904 - married William “Pa” Rainey Recorded over 100 songs in six years with Paramount

Records1983 - Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame1990 - Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame“See See Rider Blues” - “Ma” Rainey

Cover of “See See Rider” by Elvis Presley

Gertrude “Ma” Rainey - “Mother of the Blues”Born Gertrude M. Pridgett on April 26, 1886 in GeorgiaDied December 22, 1939

Began singing professionally as a teenPerformed in minstrel and medicine shows1904 - married William “Pa” Rainey Recorded over 100 songs in six years with Paramount

Records1983 - Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame1990 - Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame“See See Rider Blues” - “Ma” Rainey

Cover of “See See Rider” by Elvis Presley

Blues WomenBlues WomenBessie Smith - “The Empress of the Blues”

Born Elizabeth Smith on April 15, 1894 in Chattanooga, TNDied September 26, 1937 in Clarksdale, MS

1912 - sang in the same show as “Ma” RaineyRainey provided Smith with some vocal lessons

1929 - starred in “St. Louis Blues” videoThe only footage of her performances

Blues were declining in popularity, and Smith lost her recording contract with Columbia in 1931

Smith died in a tragic car accident in September 1937 - at the age of 43.

Bessie Smith - “The Empress of the Blues”Born Elizabeth Smith on April 15, 1894 in Chattanooga, TNDied September 26, 1937 in Clarksdale, MS

1912 - sang in the same show as “Ma” RaineyRainey provided Smith with some vocal lessons

1929 - starred in “St. Louis Blues” videoThe only footage of her performances

Blues were declining in popularity, and Smith lost her recording contract with Columbia in 1931

Smith died in a tragic car accident in September 1937 - at the age of 43.

Robert JohnsonRobert Johnson

Born Robert Leroy Johnson on May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, MS

Died August 16, 1938 in Greenwood, MSJohnson’s guitar skills are regarded as him having

made a deal with the devil at the crossroads. Some claim that he was an awful guitarist and almost

overnight became a spectacular player

Many different accounts of Robert Johnson that make his story very intriguing.

Born Robert Leroy Johnson on May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, MS

Died August 16, 1938 in Greenwood, MSJohnson’s guitar skills are regarded as him having

made a deal with the devil at the crossroads. Some claim that he was an awful guitarist and almost

overnight became a spectacular player

Many different accounts of Robert Johnson that make his story very intriguing.

Robert JohnsonRobert Johnson

“Love in Vain” - Shows his ability to sing a beautiful melody

Moved around a great deal“I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom” - a slang term

for leaving

His death adds to his mysteriousnessJohnson was rumored to have been

murdered by the husband of a woman he was hitting on at a show

“Love in Vain” - Shows his ability to sing a beautiful melody

Moved around a great deal“I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom” - a slang term

for leaving

His death adds to his mysteriousnessJohnson was rumored to have been

murdered by the husband of a woman he was hitting on at a show

Cross Road BluesCross Road Blues

“Cross Road Blues” - Robert JohnsonCovered by Cream - “Crossroads”

Eric Clapton - “Crossroads”

“Cross Road Blues” - Robert JohnsonCovered by Cream - “Crossroads”

Eric Clapton - “Crossroads”

Six Degrees of Robert Johnson

Six Degrees of Robert Johnson

How many artists were influenced by the blues? The Game:

Choose an artistFind their musical influences and try to connect

their influences with a blues artist.Example:

QueenThe BeatlesChuck Berry Muddy WatersRobert Johnson

How many artists were influenced by the blues? The Game:

Choose an artistFind their musical influences and try to connect

their influences with a blues artist.Example:

QueenThe BeatlesChuck Berry Muddy WatersRobert Johnson

ExtensionExtension

Choose a cover of a blues songhttp://www.secondhandsongs.comWrite a 1-2 page paper comparing

and contrasting the two versions.

Create a cover of a blues song and perform on your instrument.

Choose a cover of a blues songhttp://www.secondhandsongs.comWrite a 1-2 page paper comparing

and contrasting the two versions.

Create a cover of a blues song and perform on your instrument.