History of Rock and Roll Roots of Rock

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History of Rock and Roll Roots of Rock, 1: Blues

History of Rock and Roll Roots of Rock, 1: Blues

Blues: “an African-American folk music genre that developed in the rural American South. ”

Blues: “an African-American folk music genre that developed in the rural American South. ” The musical roots of blues begin in Africa: • work songs • dance music • folk music The characteristics of African music were retained in the music of African American Slaves: • work songs • "Field hollers" • worship music

The musical “building blocks” of blues Melody: • blues “scales” • “blue” notes Vocal

The musical “building blocks” of blues Melody: • blues “scales” • “blue” notes Vocal gestures: • slurs • Shouts • “bent” notes • sung-speech Rhythm: • steady, strongly accented rhythms • Accents on beats “ 2 and 4” Harmony: • Blues “chords” built on 1 st, 4 th, and 5 th notes of the major scale

“twelve bar blues” • “ 12 bar blues” has a pattern of 12 “bars”

“twelve bar blues” • “ 12 bar blues” has a pattern of 12 “bars” or measures • These 12 bars correspond to a typical pattern of chords: bar 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 chord I IV IV I I • This pattern repeats once for each verse • The presence of a predictable structural pattern facilitates improvisation

Blues – common themes Blues has a lot of common themes: • • •

Blues – common themes Blues has a lot of common themes: • • • Suffering Poverty unrequited love Sexuality humor

Blues recordings - beginnings • Blues existed for many years before it was recorded.

Blues recordings - beginnings • Blues existed for many years before it was recorded. • The first blues recordings were made around 1920. • One of the first big hits was “Crazy Blues, ” which featured singer Mamie Smith (pictured, right. ) • The first recordings were marketed as "race records" (a name coined by Ralph Peer – who was Ralph Peer? ) and aimed at an African-American audience Following Mamie Smith’s successful hit, many of the first recorded blues singers were women: Left to right: Ma Rainey, Alberta Hunter, Victoria Spivey, Sippie Wallace, Memphis Minnie, Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith • “Empress of the Blues” • b. 1894; came from extreme poverty

Bessie Smith • “Empress of the Blues” • b. 1894; came from extreme poverty and a difficult life worked with Ma Rainey in a blues traveling troupe Her first record was "Downhearted Blues, " 1923 Her career declined in the early 30 s during the depression killed in a car crash in 1937 in Mississippi; buried in an unmarked grave in Philadelphia • • In 1970, blues and rock singer Janis Joplin paid to have a proper tombstone put on Bessie Smith's grave. Ironically, Joplin herself died later that year.

Rural Southern Blues Characteristics: • A “hollering” singing style ("field holler' singing) • most

Rural Southern Blues Characteristics: • A “hollering” singing style ("field holler' singing) • most often accompanied on acoustic guitar, sometimes with harmonica • Guitar sometimes played with bottleneck slide (or even the side of a knife)

Rural Blues - Texas above: Blind Lemon Jefferson; Blind Willie Johnson Texas rural blues

Rural Blues - Texas above: Blind Lemon Jefferson; Blind Willie Johnson Texas rural blues was characterized by strong gospel influences, and an emphasis on “single string” guitar playing

Rural Blues - Georgia Above: Blind Blake; Blind Willie Mc. Tell Rural Georgia blues

Rural Blues - Georgia Above: Blind Blake; Blind Willie Mc. Tell Rural Georgia blues was characterized by a strong ragtime influence, a range of different musical structures, and an “uptown” (more sophisticated) sound

Rural Blues – Mississippi “Delta” Blues Above: Charlie Patten, Son House, Robert Johnson Mississippi

Rural Blues – Mississippi “Delta” Blues Above: Charlie Patten, Son House, Robert Johnson Mississippi Delta Blues was characterized by a prominent rhythmic “groove; ” a more primitive sound; and irregular, sometimes assymetrical musical structures.

Robert Johnson • Virtuoso Delta blues guitarist and singer; career happened in 1930’s Depression

Robert Johnson • Virtuoso Delta blues guitarist and singer; career happened in 1930’s Depression era • Major influence on Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and many later rock guitarists • Famous legend that Johnson “sold his soul to the devil, ” in return for amazing virtuosity • Mysterious circumstances around his death: he was murdered in 1938 at the age 27 (either by a jealous husband or a jealous girlfriend) “King of the Delta Blues. "