From the deep-rooted Delta blues of the Mississippi Delta to its influence over popular rock music today, the evolution of the blues have not only transcended the decades but also reached across the world. Taking us from rural farmland to a global phenomenon, this article looks at the journey of the blues as it continues to shape its place in music history.
1. Unraveling the Tangled Roots of Blues Music
From the swamps of Louisiana to the inner-city Chicago juke-joints, blues music has captivated audiences worldwide for over a century. But what are the origins of the genre? Let’s delve into the tangled roots of blues music and unravel the question.
At the heart of blues music lies a combination of African and American musical styles. African-American slaves and their descendants borrowed European instruments and song forms, and combined them with older African musical influences. As a result, blues music includes a variety of instruments from fiddles to banjos and harmonicas.
African Americans have long used music as an outlet for their pain and struggle, and blues music in particular encapsulated the plight of African-Americans in the tough times of the Jim Crow era. African-American musicians incorporated work songs, spirituals, and shouts into their recordings, allowing blues music to have a unique sound.
Notable Blues Subgenres
- Delta Blues
- Mississippi Hill Country
- Texas Blues
- West Coast Blues
- Piedmont Blues
Each region has its own distinctive version of the blues, adding unique elements such as swing, jazz, and ragtime to the mix. As the popularity of blues music has grown, so too have its offshoots, from rhythm and blues to soul and funk.
2. The Mississippi Delta – Birthplace of the Blues
The Mississippi Delta is often considered to be the birthplace of the blues, having been the center of African American culture from the end of the Civil War through the 1950s. The Delta was heavily populated by African Americans, who worked sharecropping or manual labor, and the area musical culture thrived. This gave birth to a unique style of music – blues.
Characteristics of Delta Blues
- Call and response structure
- Slide guitar
- “Bottleneck” guitar playing
- Lyrics rich in emotion
Delta blues has been influential in many forms of the blues, including electric blues, and can be heard in the work of many famous blues artists. These include Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson II, B.B. King, and many other influential figures in the blues world.
Despite its humble beginnings, the influence of Delta blues can still be heard in modern popular music, and it is widely considered to be one of the most influential musical genres of the 20th century. Whether you’re a fan of the genre or just someone with an appreciation for music history, there is a great deal to admire in the Delta blues sound.
3. The Profound Impact of Blues Music Across the Globe
The Blues record an enduring chapter in musical history, one which has left an immense influence across the globe. This iconic form of music continues to inspire established and upcoming musicians to this day.
Naturally, Blues originated in the American deep-south from the end of the 19th until to the mid-20th century. The real pioneers of the genre are made up of traditional African-American men and women who crafted the artistic expression from a combination of folk music, spirituals, work songs, and ballads. Instrumentation includes the guitar, harmonica and piano, with the most famous champion being infamous blues legend Robert Johnson.
Since its inception, Blues has bled into a vast array of genres and cultures, from jazz, country and hip-hop to western rock and roll. Riffs which are easily recognizable as classic Blues licks can be heard in songs across the world, as musicians pay homage to its great tradition.
- Grammy Award-winning U.S. band Bonnie Raitt counts the blues as one of her main influences.
- French virtuoso David Gilmour is renowned for his epic blues solos.
The emotions and stories behind the Blues draw parallels with the collective experiences of multicultural roots, demonstrating the genre’s seemingly limitless reach. Different cultures even have their own version of the Blues, which provide a unique opportunity to explore the shared musical heritages with other countries.
4. Celebrating the Enduring Legacy of Blues Music
Bringing the Blues into the Modern Day
The blues has been a key ingredient in the formation of many modern genres of music since it first emerged in the late 19th century. Today, the genre continues to play an important role in informing the sound of a majority of popular music. For example, jazz, soul, R&B, and hip-hop all originate from the blues.
The heart and soul of the genre still remains intact even today and this is primarily thanks to the influence of the many legendary blues musicians that have kept the music alive. Some of the greatest to have graced the blues stage include:
- BB King
- John Lee Hooker
- Muddy Waters
- Bessie Smith
- Lead Belly
In honor of these outstanding blues musicians, it is important to remember the lasting impression they have left not only on the music industry but on the way we view and listen to music today. As such, one way to pay homage to these iconic figures is to acknowledge their achievements and recognize their importance in the development of the blues genre and its descendants.
The blues have harnessed the spirit of our society, traversing continents and generations to take their place as an iconic part of musical heritage. In all else, let us remember the immortal words of pioneering bluesman Robert Johnson: “I’m gonna keep movin’, keep movin’, just keep movin’, blues fallin’ down like hail mister, keep on movin.
