The Blues Origins By Austin Henning To begin

The Blues: Origins By Austin Henning

To begin the Blues, we have to go back in time to the period where Slavery was legal.

• Slaves often sang during field work so that the work would seem to go by faster.

• These songs that the slaves sung were known as “Field Hollers” • A common kind of Field Holler was a Call and Response, where one slave would sing a line and the group would respond.

• Field hollers combined a lot of different elements of music. • A big feature in the music were the percussive sounds, as well as slurs and moans. A piece demonstrating the elements of Field Hollers

• Slavery was ended just after the Civil War, and the free former-slaves continued to work the fields, although the pay was hardly fair. • Sharecropping was born due to this change.

• Former slave owners employed the free African-Americans, but stacked the situation in their favor. • They would have to pay to use the land, and the landlord would choose what crop would be planted.

• The poor conditions and unfair treatment led to many of the former-slaves to move north • Another event that influenced this decision was the devastation of the cotton crop by the boll weevil

• African Americans spread out in the north and got factory jobs

• Their unique style of music spread like wildfire in the north and Blues was born.

Mamie Smith • Mamie Smith was the first to record Blues songs in the 1920’s.

• First recorded the song “Crazy Blues”. • Sold over 1 million copies in less than a year, and over two million total.

Ma Rainey • First popular stage entertainer to play the blues. • Had the nickname, “The mother of the blues”

• Ma Rainey enjoyed massive popularity in the 1920’s, but continued to perform after the decline of the blues. • She mentored Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith • Entitled the “Empress of the Blues” • Made a song called “Downhearted Blues” Which sold 800, 000 copies.

• Slated to perform at Carnegie Hall, but unfortunately died in a car crash before she got the opportunity.

B. B. King • Has the nickname, “The King of the Blues” • Has been touring for well over 50 years

• Plays over 250 concerts a year all over the world at the age of 76

Blind Lemon Jefferson • One of the earliest and most influential blues artists • One of the key figures in country blues

• Blind Lemon recorded over 100 songs in just a few years. • He was inducted into the Blues Foundations’ Hall of Fame in 1980

Charley Patton • Charley Patton heavily influenced the Delta Blues and is considered to be it’s first great star.

• It was rumored that his voice could travel up to 500 yards in concert without being amplified.

Muddy Waters • Muddy Waters found his big break in 1946 when he landed a deal with Aristocrat Records.

• By the time of his death in 1983, he’d been awarded six Grammy’s among other honors. • He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997

Bibliography http: //www. biography. com/people/ma-rainey-9542413 http: //www. redhotjazz. com/mamie. html http: //www. bbking. com/ http: //www. allmusic. com/artist/blind-lemon-jeffersonmn 0000050205 • http: //www. nps. gov/history/delta/blues/people/charley_p atton. htm • http: //www. biography. com/people/bessie-smith 9486520#synopsis • http: //www. biography. com/people/muddy-waters 9525002#later-career • •