The Abridged Series

 “Melancholic music of black American folk origin… (which) developed in the rural southern US toward the end of the 19th century, finding a wider audience in the 1940s as blacks migrated to the cities.”

 Fusion of African Spirituals and Work Songs Both used “Call and Response” styles  Started Post-Civil War near Mississippi Delta

 Two Main Styles of Blues Classic Blues  Primarily Sung by Black-American women  Piano accompaniment Delta Blues  Primarily sung by Black American men  Guitar accompaniment  More rooted in oral tradition

 Syncopation Notes of melody not on the beat  AAB Form, with short instrumental break after each line. Ex. Black Water Blues  “Blues Notes” Slightly “bent” notes; commonly done on instruments like guitar and banjo

 “Blues Scale”

 Reached it’s peak between 1920 and 1940 Reached from Mississippi to New York Re-emergence in popularity in the 60’s because of United Kingdom musicians like The Rolling Stones

 Bessie Smith “Empress of the Blues” Known for “Downhearted Blues”  Robert Johnson One of the greatest Blues performers of all time Known for “Sweet Home Chicago”

 B.B. King King of Blues Known for Guitar skills  W.C. Handy Father of the Blues Wrote “Memphis Blues”

 Influenced the following genres of music: Jazz Rock Hip-Hop R&B Pop