1. Rock Roots 3: Blues and Country Music

2. Blues Most influential form to emerge from matrix of 19th c. American musicMost influential form to emerge from matrix of 19th c. American music Foundation for nearly all popular music in the U.S.Foundation for nearly all popular music in the U.S.

3. Ancestors of the Blues Work songsWork songs –strongly rhythmic –often call and response: one person sings phrase, “answered” by group one person sings phrase, “answered” by group SpiritualsSpirituals –African-American adaptation of European hymn singing –include blue notes, more rhythmic vitality BalladsBallads Syncopated dance musicSyncopated dance music

4. Early blues Classic BluesClassic Blues Country BluesCountry Blues

5. Early blues Classic BluesClassic Blues –Earliest popular blues –Formally composed, commercial music –Accompanied by small jazz combo or jazz pianist –Performed by female singers from vaudeville tradition –Ex. Bessie Smith, Back Water Blues

6. Bessie Smith (1895-1937) “Empress of the Blues”“Empress of the Blues” Straddled line between vaudeville and the bluesStraddled line between vaudeville and the blues Extremely expressiveExtremely expressive Chose appropriate vocal tone for materialChose appropriate vocal tone for material Nuanced phrasing and timingNuanced phrasing and timing

7. Bessie Smith, Back Water Blues 12-bar blues12-bar blues rough, “gritty” vocal stylerough, “gritty” vocal style conversational style conversational style short instrumental breaks at end of each lineshort instrumental breaks at end of each line –typical of blues –like call and response with instrument

8. Country Blues Mainly male solo performersMainly male solo performers Improvised, not composedImprovised, not composed Performers accompany themselves on guitar or pianoPerformers accompany themselves on guitar or piano –Guitar style: rhythmic strummingrhythmic strumming plucked melodyplucked melody slide guitar: sliding between notes = blue notesslide guitar: sliding between notes = blue notes

9. Bottleneck or Slide Guitar Probably Hawaiian origin!Probably Hawaiian origin! Common in blues, hillbilly, Western swing, honky-tonkCommon in blues, hillbilly, Western swing, honky-tonk

10. Robert Johnson “King of the Delta Blues”“King of the Delta Blues” Sophisticated guitar techniqueSophisticated guitar technique –Single string soloing –Extensive use of slide Major influence on lead guitar styles in rockMajor influence on lead guitar styles in rock –Especially blues rock of 1960s Ex. 1 Cross Road BluesEx. 1 Cross Road Blues

11. Robert Johnson, Come On In My Kitchen blues verse/chorus formblues verse/chorus form –12 bar blues progression, but abc lyrics –Last line functions as chorus Number of spoken phrases, vocalizations, dropped or slurred wordsNumber of spoken phrases, vocalizations, dropped or slurred words Johnson plays both melody and harmony; melody mirrors vocal lineJohnson plays both melody and harmony; melody mirrors vocal line

12. In cities country blues develops into….. Hokum bluesHokum blues Boogie WoogieBoogie Woogie Chicago bluesChicago blues Rhythm and bluesRhythm and blues

13. Hokum blues Novelty bluesNovelty blues Combination of jazz, country blues, Classic blues, and popular musicCombination of jazz, country blues, Classic blues, and popular music –Some of jazz “bounce” –Singer with guitar or piano accompaniment –Silly lyrics, or filled with double-entendres

14. Tampa Red and Georgia Tom, Tight Like That Verse and refrain, with weight on refrainVerse and refrain, with weight on refrain “Naughty good humor”“Naughty good humor” “walking” guitar riffs“walking” guitar riffs Expanded rhythm sectionExpanded rhythm section stop time - instruments stop playing abruptly, vocals continuestop time - instruments stop playing abruptly, vocals continue

15. Boogie-Woogie Piano bluesPiano blues Country blues + ragtimeCountry blues + ragtime Shuffle rhythm established in left handShuffle rhythm established in left hand Riffs in right hand build up blues- inflected melodyRiffs in right hand build up blues- inflected melody Eight-beat rhythmEight-beat rhythm Ex. Pinetop Smith, Pinetop’s Boogie WoogieEx. Pinetop Smith, Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie

16. Boogie-Woogie Boogie-woogie at fast tempos = eight- beat rock rhythmBoogie-woogie at fast tempos = eight- beat rock rhythm Ex: Roll ‘Em Pete - Pete Johnson and Big Joe TurnerEx: Roll ‘Em Pete - Pete Johnson and Big Joe Turner

17. Country Music Anglo-American folk music from Britain influenced by African-American musicAnglo-American folk music from Britain influenced by African-American music –Fiddle, banjo, guitar preferred instruments –High, nasal singing style Called “old-time” musicCalled “old-time” music –Emerges from matrix of influences at undetermined time Commercial version = country musicCommercial version = country music

18. Country music Two broad, early categories:Two broad, early categories: –Mountain tradition = Carter family –Hillbilly Heavily influenced by popular music, African- American folk music, jazz and bluesHeavily influenced by popular music, African- American folk music, jazz and blues Ex. Jimmie RodgersEx. Jimmie Rodgers

19. Carter Family - Wildwood Flower Nasal vocal toneNasal vocal tone Strophic formStrophic form Two-beat style beatTwo-beat style beat “Thumb-brush” guitar style“Thumb-brush” guitar style –melody played on lower strings –chords played on upper strings –influenced folk, country guitarists

20. Country vocal harmonies Both country styles share vocal harmony “sound”Both country styles share vocal harmony “sound” –Harmony singing with lines a 3 rd apart –Influenced by Sacred Harp or shape note singing method –Called tight vocal harmonies –Ex. Bailes Brothers, You Can't Go Halfway (and Get In)

21. Jimmie Rodgers - Waiting for a Train Sparse, chordal accompanimentSparse, chordal accompaniment Blues inflected vocal toneBlues inflected vocal tone Blue yodelBlue yodel Definite influences from popular music, country music, jazz, and bluesDefinite influences from popular music, country music, jazz, and blues

22. Western Swing Hybrid of cowboy music, dance music, jazz, bluesHybrid of cowboy music, dance music, jazz, blues Strong dance beatStrong dance beat Heavy two-beat style, but with accent on backbeatHeavy two-beat style, but with accent on backbeat Jazz instrumental ensemble, including drumsJazz instrumental ensemble, including drums Ex. Bob Wills, Steel Guitar RagEx. Bob Wills, Steel Guitar Rag

23. Honky-tonk Fusion of hillbilly and WesternFusion of hillbilly and Western Emerges in years after World War IIEmerges in years after World War II Primarily played in beer joints, aka honky-tonksPrimarily played in beer joints, aka honky-tonks In response to loud environment, electric AND acoustic guitars usedIn response to loud environment, electric AND acoustic guitars used

24. Pedal Steel Guitar

25. Honky-tonk “Country two-beat”“Country two-beat” Emotional singing style, with blues inflectionsEmotional singing style, with blues inflections Emotional content expressed in direct languageEmotional content expressed in direct language Ex. Hank Williams, Your Cheatin’ HeartEx. Hank Williams, Your Cheatin’ Heart