The Blues

1. The Blues

2. The blues is a 12 bar structure The blues is a combination of West African Rhythms, Call and Response pattern, And Western European chord structure. The blues evolution began on Beale Street in Memphis Tennessee Beale Street is the Broadway of Blues music Blue Notes add color and texture to a song, extra added harmony The blues scale is 1 b3 4 #4 5 b7 1. This is the primary scale all blues musicians use The 12 bar blues structure became standard in the 1920’s. This structure influenced rock and roll. Is the same structure for rock and roll songs The Blues

3. Blues and Country music got their start around the same time in the early 20th century Blues was “race” music Country was “hillbilly” music First Blues song was Memphis Blues by W. C. Handy, recorded in 1912 Country Blues was first started in the south, used slide guitar. Leadbelly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Blake were first county blues artists. Artists sang Solo, on banjo or guitar was big influence on Delta blues Delta Blues from Mississippi Delta slide guitar, harmonica best delta blues musician was Robert Johnson The Blues

4. Memphis blues was established in Memphis Tennessee Influenced by Jug bands. Washboards, fiddles, kazoo, mandolin Memphis blues musicians moved to Chicago and created Chicago blues or Urban Blues Used electric instruments. Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker were important Chicago blues musicians Mamie Smith, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, popular female blues singers of the 1920’s Mamie Smith was first black woman to record a blues song in 1920 called Crazy Blues. 75,000 copies sold in the first month of release MA Rainey was the mother of the blues. The Blues

5. Jump blues was started in Kansas City by Big Joe Turner Influenced by Stride Piano version of ragtime music direct influence on Boogie Woogie early rock and roll of Little Richard and Jerry lee Lewis B.B. King is most influential and important modern blues guitarist influenced musicians like Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton Albert King, Buddy Guy influential modern day blues musicians Had major influence on British rock and rollers like Rolling Stones, Cream, Lead Zeppelin, Jimmi Hendrix The Blues

6. Texas rock and roll was influenced by Texas blues musicians like Stevie Ray Vaughn. Influenced Southern rock bands like ZZ top, Lynard Skynard, Doobie Brothers The movie The Blues Brothers was released in 1980 Was an important movie about the blues featured blues music and blues musicians. Created a renewed interest in blues music and restarted the careers of many blues artists. W.C. Handy award is the award for best blues artists, is the Grammy for Blues music The Blues

7. W. C. handy • Known as the Father of the Blues • First educated musician • Born in a log cabin built by his grandfather • Deeply religious, religious themes in his music

8. Started to learn the guitar, switched to trumpet Age 23 led his own band, performed at the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1893 Toured the county until 1900 Accepted teaching position at Alabama Agriculture and Mechanical College for Negroes. Only Negro college in Alabama 1903 resigned from teaching for lack of pay. Started touring again 1909 moved to Memphis, recorded Memphis Blues in 1912 Became music publisher in 1917 because blacks could not get music published Moved to New York City to open publishing company Published Beale street blues and Kansas City Blues 1920 opened Handy record Company W. C. Handy

9. 1925 Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong recorded his St. Louis Blues In 1926 became an author. Wrote anthologies of blues music Wrote 5 books 1929 St. Louis Blues was made into a movie starring Bessie Smith Was considered one of the worlds greatest musicians and song writers W. C. Handy

10. Ma Rainey • 1886- 1939 • Considered the mother of the blues • Earliest known professional blues singers

11. Mentor and major influence on Bessie Smith First public performance was at age 14 1904 joined the Rabbit Foot Minstrels 1912 met Bessie Smith, took her under her wing Trained her in stage presence and how to be a performer out spoken supported of women’s rights 1923 made her first recordings Signed with Paramount records, recorded 100 songs Great Depression hurt her career, retired in 1933 Ma Rainey

12. Bessie Smith • 1894-1937 • Most popular and successful blues singer of the 1920’s • Enormous influence on modern singers • like Janis Joplin, Nora Jones, Billie Holliday and Mahalia Jackson

13. Bessie Smith • started singing with her brother on the streets of Tennessee • 1904 brother left to join minstrel show • 1912 he returns to take Bessie with him • Joined the Moses Stokes Theater Company • Met Ma Rainey • 1913 developed her own act.

14. 1920 started to gain fame 1923 Joined the TOBA First big hit was Down Hearted Blues Became highest paid black performer Was the Madonna or Beyonce of her time 1929 performed in her first Broadway play 1929 stared in the movie St Louis Blues A “talkie” movie that was written with her in mind to star in 1933 signed with Okeh music label was paid $37.50 per recording Recorded with the likes of Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman Bessie Smith

15. September 1937 injured in car wreck on US 61 Since she was black she was forced to go to a segregated Afro- Hospital that was 4 hours away from crash site instead of the white hospital that was 45 mins away. Arm was amputated and died from complication recanted in the book Death of Bessie Smith in 1959 Bessie Smith

16. Most famous Delta Blues musician Did not start recording until 1935 influenced many modern musicians like Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones Recorded only 29 songs total of 42 tracks, over 2 day period in San Antonio Texas Most famous song was Sweet Home Chicago legend says he sold his soul to the Devil at the crossroads US 61 and US 49 in Mississippi considered greatest blues singers of all times Robert Johnson

17. Used raw emotion in his lyrics, used bass strings on his guitar for melody this is opposite of usual guitar playing Many musicians have recorded his songs. Movies like The Blues Brothers, O Brother, Where Art Thou, and Crossroads have cameo story lines on his life Robert Johnson

18. Lead Belly • Huddie William Leadbetter • 1885-1949 • Folk and blues musician • One of the first guitarists to use 12 strings

19. Lead Belly • Wrote folk music and blues song book • started playing guitar at 5 years old • At age 20 he left home to become a musician • Worked as a musician and laborer (handy man etc)

20. 1918 first trouble with the law Thrown in jail for killing man in a bar fight. Would be in and out of prison most of his life Was stabbed in prison and survived. Which is how he got his nick name 1930 was discovered by Alan Lomax while in prison Recorded his music for book history of the blues Wrote a song to the governor of Louisiana He liked the song so much was granted parole 1934 moved to New York Recorded with American Record Company 1939 back in prison for assult, 15th time in jail Lead Belly

21. released in 1940 became hero of folk musicians 1949 European tour Became ill Diagnosed with Lou Gerigs disease Wrote huge song book for folk and blues music Has been recorded by thousands of musicians Wrote famous songs like Black Betty House of the Rising Sun Lead Belly

22. Big Joe Turner • 1911-1985 • Boss of the Blues • From Kansas City • Wrote hit rock and roll song Shake, rattle and Roll • One of the first to mix R&B with boogie-woogie, resulting in jump blues

23. Big Joe Turner • Shake Rattle and Roll is one of the first rock and roll hits • The originator of Jump Blues • Was a huge man, almost 6 foot tall and rarely used a microphone

24. Was main influence on Bill Haley and the Comets and Elvis Presley won award for best blues singer in 1945 Worked as a bouncer, bartender and singer in Kansas city Teamed up with piano player Pete Johnson to create the fist jump blues band Worked with Johnson well into the 1950’s Went on Alan Freed Tours with Fats Domino, the Clovers, Bo Diddley and other pioneers of rock and roll Last hit was The 1983 album Blues Train Big Joe Turner

25. Muddy Waters • 1915-1983 • Father of Chicago Blues • 1930 bought first guitar • recorded by Alan Lomax for history of blues recordings

26. Muddy Waters • 1943 moved to Chicago • Switched from acoustic to electric guitar • used bottle neck style of playing • 1946 first recordings for Columbia records

27. used guitar, bass, rhythms section, first to use trio type setting direct influence on rock and roll 1960’s rock stars site him as major influence because of his singing and playing Influenced major rock stars of the 60’s to present He created the Power Trio setting influenced Chuck Berry and other rock stars Rolling stones named their band after one of his hit songs. Led Zepplin recorded his song Whole Lotta Love Influnence on AC/DC, The Who, The Beatles, Nirvana, etc Muddy Waters

28. John Lee Hooker • 1917-2001 • influential Chicago blues guitarist • famous songs were Boom Boom and Boogie Chillin’ • ran away from home at 15 to become a musician

29. John Lee Hooker • 1930s worked on Beal Street to make a name for himself • Moved to Detroit in the 1940’s to work for Ford motor company • Started recording career • Boogie Chillin was first hit

30. he was illiterate, could not read or write Known for his dramatic lyrics sang in the movie the blues brothers 1989 received a Grammy award for his album the healer recorded over 100 albums Star on the Hollywood walk of fame in 1991 Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Has 2 songs on top 500 songs of all time Inducted into the blues hall of fame 2000 Grammy award for life time achievement John Lee Hooker

31. B.B. King • born in 1925 • Best modern day blues musician • Lucille is the name of his guitar, named after his wife • started performing in the 1940’s • Is a good humanitarian and spokesman for diabetic causes.

32. B.B. King • 1947 started recording for RPM records • Produced by Sam Phillips, who found Elvis. • Was nick named Beale Street Blues Boy • Was a D.J. on Beal Street in Memphis • Shortened name to B.B

33. 1962 signed with Paramount records First major hit in 1969 with The Thrill is Gone Opening act for the Rolling stones from 1951-1985 appeared on Bill board top 10 charts 74 times 1988 performed with U2 on Rattle and Hum 2000 performed with Eric Clapton on Riding with the King 2003 performed with Phish 2006 age of 80- European tour Huge influence on modern day guitarists and rock musicians 1990 received national Medal of Arts 2004 PHD from University of Mississippi 2006 Presidential Medal of Freedom 14 Grammy Awards number 3 on the list of 100 greatest guitar players Favorite singer is Frank Sinatra B. B. King

34. Buddy Guy • 1936- present • Rock and Chicago blues guitarist • Main influence on Jimi Hendrix • Father of Rapper Shawnna • Known for his showmanship • Plays guitar behind his back • Gave Hendrix idea for stage gimmicks

35. Buddy Guy • moved to Chicago in 1957 • Met and taught by Muddy Waters • 1960 influence felt on British bands • American Folk Blues festival in London • Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart

36. 1969 headliner on concert that featured Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin Bridge between blues and rock and roll Huge influence on Stevie Ray Vaughn, Clapton, Zeppelin, Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Used distortion, and feed back (like Hendrix) Buddy Guy was to blues what Elvis was to Rock Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 5 Grammy awards 23 W. C. Handy awards Billboard Musician of the Century award Congressional Medal of Arts Buddy Guy

37. Stevie Ray Vaughn • 1954-1990 • one of the most influential modern blues guitarists • Huge influence on southern rock • Band was named Double Trouble

38. Stevie Ray Vaughn • Influence on ZZ Top, Lynard Skynard, Doobie Brothers • performed with David bow on his hits China Girl and Let’s Dance • top selling records in the 1980s before drug addiction aught up with him

39. Stevie Ray Vaughn • After stint in rehab re-invented his career • Played with Clapton and the fabulous Thunderbirds • Died in Helicopter crash in 1990 • Number 7 on the top 100 guitarists of all times