1. THE BLUES The purest from of Music

2. History  Slaves would sing songs as they worked in cotton, sometimes they sang “in code” for planning on escaping. Earliest form of blues. Usually they just sang traditional African songs and the southern gospel music they heard in church.

3.  The Mississippi Delta was the breeding ground for the blues.  Every From of the blues is traced back to the Delta know as Delta Blues- Mostly acoustic  Spread from the south to the Midwest in the 20s and 30s. The new blues hotbed was Chicago Blues- Mostly Electrified

4.  Became very popular- interest to young kids and teenage in England after WWII  They had a connection to the sad and dark qualities  In 1959 Professional Blues Musicians started touring England-They were treated as rock stars.

5.  Influenced many rock stars in the 60s, only when British Bands came over here and covered their favorite blues artists then did main-stream teenagers find out about the blues.  By the end of the 60s and mid 70s all blues were turned up and young kids merged rock n roll in to a blues feeling known as Blues Rock.

6. Instruments  6 & 12 string guitar  Harmonica  Washboard bass  Drums

7. Notable Artists  3 Kings of the Blues  BB King  Albert King  Freddie King  Robert Johnson- Invented delta blues- most influential blues guitarist rumored to have sold his soul to the devil for his skills.  Muddy Waters- Chicago Blues Guitarist. When Beatles were asked what they wanted to see the most in America they replied, “Muddy Waters,” the reporters said “Where’s that?” 

8.  Elmore James- King of the Amplified Slide Guitar Format

9. Key facts about Blues  Very simple and pure form of music  Many songs had several artist because several covered them and took the credit for writing them.  Many use the same beat and Rhythm