 Once upon a time, Jim was reading a book about the blues and then he said the magic word “blacamico!” and he was in the book as he read through the book this is what he found out.

 The blues started back in the late 1800s when slavery was a big part of the economy. The

 They started singing these songs while out in the cotton and rice fields. They were call and response.

 Depending on what type of work the slaves were doing at that time would determine the tempo, which kept them in sync.

 These song helped the day go by faster by making the songs up on the spot.

 These songs were about Christianity and were considered sacred music with secret meanings.

 The songs could mean anything secret so their owners wouldn’t know about things like secret meetings and running away.

 Blues lyrics express many emotions about hardships of everyday life, especially back in the days of slavery.

 Mamie Smith was the first to record blues music in the 1920s

 Mamie’s version of Crazy Blues was such a success other record companies tried to find more female blues singers that could equal sales of “Crazy Blues".

 It was a very important record because it opened the recording industry to African- Americans.

 Bessie started out on the streets of Chattanooga performing.

 Started her career dancing in singing in a vaudeville, or traveling show.

 Bessie met a woman who was also on the tour, with her husband. Their names were Ma and Pa Rainey. Ma Rainey mentored Bessie. Ma Raine y Bessie Smith Pa Rainey

 Her Real name was Gertrude Pridgett

 Married William “Pa” Rainey which made her Ma Rainey

 Became a couple duo on a vaudeville show

 B.B. King was born Riley B. King, then went by his stage name Beale Street Blues Boy, later to be shortened to blues Boy King then eventually just B.B. King.

 B.B. King named all of his Gibson guitars Lucille, after a girl who a bar fight was over in Arkansas

 #1 Hit “Three O'clock Blues”

 McKinley Morganfield was his birth name

 When he moved to Chicago in 1943 he changed blues music forever with songs like “Rollin’ Stone” and “Feel Like Goin’ Home”

 He revived blues in the 80s and bridged the gap between rock and blues

 Many of his albums went gold

 Stevie Ray Vaughn died in 1990 in a tragic helicopter crash at the age of only 35.

 Her birth name was Eleanora Fagan

 Made her first album at 18 with both jazz and blues influences

      waters #early-life waters #early-life  