The History Book Club discussion

This is a thread that is focused on the "Blues".

Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the Deep South of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads.

The blues form ubiquitous in jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll is characterized by specific chord progressions—the twelve-bar blues chord progressions being the most common—and the blue notes, notes that for expressive purposes are sung or played flattened or gradually bent (minor 3rd to major 3rd) in relation to the pitch of the major scale.

The blues genre is based on the blues form but possesses other characteristics such as specific lyrics, bass lines and instruments. Blues can be subdivided into several subgenres ranging from country to urban blues that were more or less popular during different periods of the 20th century. Best known are the Delta, Piedmont, Jump and Chicago blues styles. World War II marked the transition from acoustic to electric blues and the progressive opening of blues music to a wider audience. In the 1960s and 1970s, a hybrid form called blues rock evolved.

The term "the blues" refers to the "blue devils", meaning melancholy and sadness; an early use of the term in this sense is found in George Colman's one-act farce Blue Devils (1798).[2] Though the use of the phrase in African American music may be older, it has been attested to since 1912, when Hart Wand's "Dallas Blues" became the first copyrighted blues composition.

In lyrics the phrase is often used to describe a depressed mood.

Source: Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues

This is a thread to discuss the musical genre called the "blues"

Here we can discuss the history of the blues, its stylistic origins, the different cultural origins, the instruments and/or people associated with the blues or famous for it, and events or locations associated with the blues, its origins and its continued development as a musical genre.

Feel free to discuss also any of the subgenres -

(There are also genres of music that are not blues but which can be described as blues-like or bluesy. What may also be called blues is the actual chord structure of a piece, which goes through a standard chord progression, called the blues chord progression, containing the 3 basics chords: I, IV and V, which means the first, the fourth and the fifth degree.)


Genres of blues

Acid blues
Blues-rock
Blues shouter
Boogie-woogie - A primary subgenre
British blues
Canadian blues
Chicago blues
Classic female blues - A primary subgenre
Contemporary R&B
Country blues - A primary subgenre
Delta blues - A primary subgenre
Detroit blues
Electric blues - A primary subgenre
Fife and Drum Blues - A primary subgenre
Gospel blues
Hokum blues
Jazz blues
Jump blues - A primary subgenre
Kansas City blues
Louisiana blues
Memphis blues
Piano blues - A primary subgenre
Piedmont blues
Punk blues
Rhythm and blues
Soul blues
St. Louis blues
Swamp blues
Texas blues
West Coast blues

Additionally we can discuss also:

The Fusion Genres

Blues rock · Jazz blues · Punk blues · Soul blues

The Regional Scenes

British blues · Canadian blues · Chicago blues · Detroit blues · East Coast blues · Kansas City blues · Louisiana blues · Memphis blues · New Orleans blues · Piedmont blues · St. Louis blues · Swamp blues · Texas blues · West Coast blue

Delta blues fans regard Robert Johnson as one of the defining musicians of the genre. Haven't read this yet but it looks worth the read.
byElijah Wald
the review on goodreads:
Robert Johnson's story presents a fascinating paradox: Why did this genius of the Delta blues excite so little interest when his records were first released in the 1930s? And how did this brilliant but obscure musician come to be hailed long after his death as the most important artist in early blues and a founding father of rock 'n' roll?
Elijah Wald provides the first thorough examination of Johnson's work and makes it the centerpiece for a fresh look at the entire history of the blues. He traces the music's rural folk roots but focuses on its evolution as a hot, hip African-American pop style, placing the great blues stars in their proper place as innovative popular artists during one of the most exciting periods in American music. He then goes on to explore how the image of the blues was reshaped by a world of generally white fans, with very different standards and dreams.

The result is a view of the blues from the inside, based not only on recordings but also on the recollections of the musicians themselves, the African-American press, and original research. Wald presents previously unpublished studies of what people on Delta plantations were actually listening to during the blues era, showing the larger world in which Johnson's music was conceived. What emerges is a new respect and appreciation for the creators of what many consider to be America's deepest and most influential music.

Wald also discusses how later fans formed a new view of the blues as haunting Delta folklore. While trying to separate fantasy from reality, he accepts that neither the simple history nor the romantic legend is the whole story. Each has its own fascinating history, and it is these twinhistories that inform this book

We can also discuss on this thread any of the historical blues musicians; including the following:

Early country blues

Son House (March 21, 1902 – October 19, 1988)
Henry Thomas (1874-c.1930)
Alger "Texas" Alexander (1900–1954)
Pink Anderson (1900–1974)
Casey Bill Weldon (1909-196?)
Kokomo Arnold (1901–1968)
Barbecue Bob (1902–1931)
Scrapper Blackwell (1903–1962)
Black Ace (1907–1972)
Blind Blake (1895–1937)
Son Bonds (1909–1947)
Big Bill Broonzy (1893–1958)
Gabriel Brown (1910–1972)
Rabbit Brown (1880–1937)
Willie Brown (1900–1952)
Bull City Red (unknown)
Bumble Bee Slim (1905–1968)
Gus Cannon (1883–1979)
Bo Carter (1893–1964)
Sam Collins (1887–1949)
Martha Copeland (unknown)
Floyd Council (1911–1976)
Ida Cox (1896–1967)
Reverend Gary Davis (1896–1972)
Mattie Delaney (1905-unknown)
Sleepy John Estes (1904–1977)
Blind Boy Fuller (1908–1941)
Jesse Fuller (1896–1976)
Jazz Gillum (1904–1966)
Shirley Griffith (1908–1974)
Arvella Gray (1906–1980)
Silas Hogan (1911–1994)
Smokey Hogg (1914–1960)
Lightnin' Hopkins (1912–1982)
Peg Leg Howell (1888–1966)
Alberta Hunter (1895–1984)
Mississippi John Hurt (c.1893-1966)
Jim Jackson (c. 1884-1937)
John Jackson (1924–2002)
Skip James (1902–1969)
Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893–1929)
Blind Willie Johnson (1897–1945)
Lonnie Johnson (1894–1970)
Robert Johnson (1911–1938)
Tommy Johnson (1896–1956)
Maggie Jones (c.1900-unknown)
Lead Belly (c.1889-1949)
Furry Lewis (1899–1981)
Charley Lincoln (1900–1963)
Mance Lipscomb (1895–1976)
Cripple Clarence Lofton (1887–1957)
Robert Lockwood, Jr. (1915–2006)
Mississippi Fred McDowell (1904–1972)
Brownie McGhee (1915–1996)
Blind Willie McTell (1901–1959)
Eddie Mapp (c.1910-1931)
The Memphis Jug Band
Big Maceo Merriweather (1905–1953)
Eugene "Buddy" Moss (c.1914-1984)
Memphis Minnie (1897–1973)
Charlie Patton (1891–1934)
Piano Red (1911–1985)
Buster Pickens (1916–1964)
Joe Pullum (1905–1964)
Ma Rainey (1886–1939)
Tampa Red (1904–1981)
Alec Seward (1902–1972)
Robert Shaw (1908–1985)
Bessie Smith (1894–1937)
Victoria Spivey (1908–1976)
Frank Stokes (c.1888-1955)
Baby Tate (1916–1972)
Sonny Terry (1911–1986)
Ramblin' Thomas (1902–1945)
Henry Townsend (1909–2006)
Sippie Wallace (1898–1986)
Washboard Sam (1910–1966)
Curley Weaver (1906–1962)
Peetie Wheatstraw (1902–1941)
Bukka White (1909–1977)
Josh White (1914 or 1915–1969)
Sonny Boy Williamson I (1914–1948)
Ralph Willis (1910–1957)

Early urban blues

Gladys Bentley (1907–1960)
Lucille Bogan (1897–1948)
Reverend Gary Davis (1896–1972)
Georgia Tom Dorsey (1899–1993)
Lil Green (1919–1954)
Lucille Hegamin (1894–1970)
Alberta Hunter (1895–1984)
Papa Charlie Jackson (c.1890-1938)
James "Stump" Johnson (1902–1969)
Maggie Jones (c.1900-unknown)
Virginia Liston (1890–1932)
Whistlin' Alex Moore (1899–1989)
Ma Rainey (1886–1939)
Clara Smith (c.1894-1935)
Mamie Smith (1883–1946)
Bessie Smith (1894–1937)
Sippie Wallace (1898–1986)
Ethel Waters (1896–1977)

Pre-World War II jazz blues

Albert Ammons (1907–1949)
Louis Armstrong (1901–1971)
Sidney Bechet (1897–1959)
Leroy Carr (1905–1935)
Walter Davis (1912–1963)
Johnny Dodds (1892–1940)
Champion Jack Dupree (c.1909-1992)
Ivory Joe Hunter (1914–1974)
St. Louis Jimmy Oden (1903–1977)
Meade Lux Lewis (1905–1964)
Little Brother Montgomery (c.1906-1985)
Big Maceo Merriweather (1905–1953)
Kansas Joe McCoy (1905–1950)
Papa Charlie McCoy (1909–1950)
Jay McShann (1916–2006)
Roy Milton (1907–1983)
Jelly Roll Morton (1890–1941)
Jimmy Rushing (1902–1972)
Roosevelt Sykes (1906–1983)
Big Joe Turner (1911–1985)
Sam Taylor (born 1916)
T-Bone Walker (1910–1975)

Postwar blues

Mose Allison (born 1927)
Buster Benton (1932–1996)
Charles Brown (1922–1999)
Roy Brown (1925–1981)
George "Mojo" Buford (born 1929)
Ray Charles (1930–2004)
Gary B.B. Coleman (1947–1994)
Pee Wee Crayton (1914–1985)
Larry Davis (1936–1994)
Little Sammy Davis (born 1928)
Floyd Dixon (1929–2006)
Champion Jack Dupree (c.1909-1992)
Terry Garland (born 1953)
Larry Garner (born 1952)
James Harman (born 1946)
Wynonie Harris (1915–1969)
Louis Jordan (1908–1975)
Little Willie Littlefield (born 1931)
Willie Love (1906–1953)
Percy Mayfield (1920–1984)
Amos Milburn (1927–1980)
Dave Peabody (born 1948)
Pinetop Perkins (born 1913)
Piano Red (1911–1985)
Sherman Robertson (born 1948)
Smoky Babe (1927–1975)
Memphis Slim (1915–1988)
Lonesome Sundown (1928–1995)
Smokey Wilson (born 1936)
U.P. Wilson (1934–2004)
Jimmy Witherspoon (1923–1997)

Kansas City blues

Walter Brown (1917–1956)
Jay McShann (1916–2006)
Arnold Moore (1914–2005)
Jimmy Rushing (c.1902-1972)
Big Joe Turner (1911–1985)

Later styles

Little Hatch (1921–2003)
Lee McBee (born 1951)

Chicago/Detroit blues

Luther Allison (1939–1997)
Eddie "Guitar" Burns (born 1928)
The Butler Twins
Paul Butterfield (1942–1987)
John Henry Barbee (1905–1964)
Carey Bell (1936–2007)
Eddie Boyd (1914–1994)
James Cotton (born 1935)
Blind John Davis (1913–1985)
Bo Diddley (1928–2008)
Willie Dixon (1915–1992)
David Honeyboy Edwards (born 1915)
"Baby Face" Leroy Foster (1923–1958)
Buddy Guy (born 1936)
Shakey Jake Harris (1921–1990)
Earl Hooker (1929–1970)
J. B. Hutto (1926–1983)
Big Walter Horton (1918–1981)
Floyd Jones (1917–1989)
Moody Jones (1908–1988)
Elmore James (1918–1963)
Albert King (1924–1992)
Freddie King (1934–1976)
John Lee Hooker (1917–2001)
Bonnie Lee (1931–2006)
Little Sonny (1932–2000)
Nick Moss (born 1972)
Charlie Musselwhite (born 1944)
Robert Nighthawk (1909–1967)
Pinetop Perkins (born 1913)
Snooky Pryor (1921–2006)
Boogie Woogie Red (1925–1985)
Jimmy Reed (1925–1976)
Soko Richardson (1939–2004)
Jimmy Rogers (1924–1997)
Otis Rush (born 1934)
Magic Sam (1937–1970)
Eddie Shaw (born 1937)
Little Mack Simmons (1933–2000)
Johnny Shines (1915–1992)
Magic Slim (born 1937)
Little Smokey Smothers (born 1939)
Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers (1929–1993)
Otis Spann (1930–1970)
Arthur "Big Boy" Spires (1912–1990)
Hound Dog Taylor (1915–1975)
Eddie Taylor (1923–1985)
Little Walter (1930–1968)
Baby Boy Warren (1919–1977)
Washboard Willie (1909–1991)
Muddy Waters (1915–1983)
Carl Weathersby (born 1953)
Junior Wells (1934–1998)
Howlin' Wolf (1910–1976)
Jody Williams (born 1935)
Johnny Williams (1906–2006)
Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) (c.1899-1965)
Big John Wrencher (1923–1977)
Johnny "Man" Young (1918–1974)

Modern blues (post 1950s)

Davy Knowles (born 1987)
Gaye Adegbalola (born 1944)
James Anthony (Pecchia) (born 1955)
Back Alley John (1955–2006)
Etta Baker (1913–2006)
Marcia Ball (born 1949)
Johnnie Bassett (born 1935)
Elvin Bishop (born 1942)
Bobby Bland (born 1930)
Rory Block (born 1949)
Mike Bloomfield (1943–1981)
The Blues Brothers
Joe Bonamassa (born 1977)
Delaney Bramlett (1939–2009)
Lonnie Brooks (born 1933)
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (1924–2005)
Bob Brozman (born 1954)
Roy Buchanan (1939–1988)
Eric Burdon (born 1941)
Jimmy Burns (born 1943)
Eric Clapton (born 1945)
Albert Collins (1932–1993)
Johnny Copeland (1937–1997)
Al Copley (born 1952)
Robert Cray (born 1953)
Willie Dixon (1915–1992)
Big Joe Duskin (1921–2007)
Snooks Eaglin (1936–2009)
John Fahey (1939–2001)
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Robben Ford (born 1951)
Rory Gallagher (1948–1995)
Billy F. Gibbons (born 1949)
Peter Green (born 1946)
John Hammond (born 1942)
Alvin Youngblood Hart (born 1963)
Ernie Hawkins (born 1947)
Ted Hawkins (1936–1995)
Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970)
Z. Z. Hill (1935–1984)
John Lee Hooker (1917–2001)
Lightnin' Hopkins (1912–1982)
James Hunter (born 1962)
Colin James (born 1964)
Etta James (born 1938)
Steve James (born 1950)
Jimmy Johnson (born 1928)
Jo Ann Kelly (born 1944)
B. B. King (born 1925)
Freddie King (1934–1976)
The Legendary Blues Band
Lonnie Mack (born 1941)
Doug Macleod (born 1946)
Taj Mahal (born 1942)
John Mayall (born 1933)
Pete Mayes (1938–2008)
Keb' Mo' (born 1951)
Gary Moore (born 1952)
Mike Morgan (born 1959)
Sam Myers (born 1936)
Sugar Ray Norcia (unknown)
Darrell Nulisch (born 1952)
Odetta (1930–2008)
Rod Piazza (born 1947)
Lonnie Pitchford (1955–1998)
Gary Primich (1958–2007)
Louisiana Red (born 1932)
Fenton Robinson (1935–1997)
Roomful of Blues
Bobby Rush (born 1940)
Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women
Seasick Steve (born c.1940)
Magic Slim (born 1937)
Son Seals (1942–2004)
Arbee Stidham (1917–1988)
Angela Strehli (born 1945)
Koko Taylor (1935–2009)
Mick Taylor (born 1949)
Susan Tedeschi (born 1969)
Tabby Thomas (born 1929)
Rufus Thomas (1917–2001)
George Thorogood (born 1950)
Ali Farka Touré (1939–2006)
Robin Trower (born 1945)
Derek Trucks (born 1979)
Jimmie Vaughan (born 1951)
Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954–1990)
Kazumi Watanabe (born 1953)
Lil' Ed Williams (born 1955)
Johnny Winter (born 1944)
Alan Wilson (Canned Heat) (1943–1970)
Mitch Woods (born 1951)
Marc Benno (born 1947)

Blues since 1990

Davy Knowles (born 1987)
Gwyn Ashton (born 1961)
Tab Benoit (born 1967)
Deanna Bogart (born 1960)
Joe Bonamassa (born 1977)
Kenny Brown (born 1953)
R. L. Burnside (1926–2005)
Tommy Castro (born 1959)
Claudia Carawan (born 1959)
Joanna Connor (born 1962)
Shemekia Copeland (born 1979)
Murali Coryell (born 1969)
Sean Costello (1979–2008)
Guy Davis (born 1952)
Chris Duarte (born 1964)
Ronnie Earl (born 1953)
Tinsley Ellis (born 1957)
Sue Foley (born 1968)
Anson Funderburgh (born 1954)
Anthony Gomes (born 1975)
Otis Grand (born 1950)
Alvin Youngblood Hart (born 1965)
Jeff Healey (1966–2008)
Ron Holloway (born 1953)
Colin James (born 1964)
Paul "Wine" Jones (born 1946)
Gene Kelton (born c.1955)
Junior Kimbrough (1930–1998)
Chris Thomas King (born 1964)
Paul Lamb (born 1955)
Jonny Lang (born 1981)
Larry McCray (born 1960)
Harry Manx (unknown)
Keb Mo' (born 1951)
Coco Montoya (born 1951)
Kenny Neal (born 1957)
North Mississippi Allstars
Blind Mississippi Morris (born 1955)
Charlie Parr (unknown)
Asie Payton (1937–1997)
Kelly Joe Phelps (born 1959)
Ana Popović (born 1976)
Roxanne Potvin (born 1982)
Todd Sharpville (born 1970)
Kenny Wayne Shepherd (born 1976)
Bobby Sowell (born 1947)
Dave Specter (born 1963)
Otis Taylor (born 1948)
Susan Tedeschi (born 1970)
Jimmy Thackery (born 1953)
T-Model Ford (born 1924)
Joe Louis Walker (born 1949)
William Elliott Whitmore (born 1978)

Blues in conventional pop music

Harold Arlen (1905–1986), "Blues in the Night" and "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"

Duke Ellington (1899–1974) and Billy Strayhorn (1915–1967), "I've Got It Bad and That Ain't Good"

George Gershwin (1898–1937), "Porgy and Bess"

John Mayer Trio, "Try!" 2005

Blues in country music

Johnny Cash (1932–2003)
Merle Haggard (born 1937)
Jerry Lee Lewis (born 1937)
Jimmie Rodgers (1897–1933)
Hank Williams (1923–1953)

Blues influence in classical music

George Gershwin (1898–1937), "Rhapsody in Blue" and "Concerto in F"

Honegger (1892–1955), "Pacific 231", the "train song" as concerto.

William Grant Still (1895–1978), "Afro-American Symphony"

Blues in contemporary rock and pop music

The Rolling Stones
Cream
Led Zeppelin
The Who
The Black Keys
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Blues Explosion
Nick Cave (born 1957)
G. Love & Special Sauce
Ben Harper (born 1969)
Norah Jones (born 1979)
Chris Thomas King (born 1962)
Lenny Kravitz (born 1964)
Los Lonely Boys
Hans Olson (unknown)
Bonnie Raitt (born 1949)
Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise
Thin Lizzy
Tom Waits (born 1948)
The White Stripes
Clutch
ZZ Top

Other global musicians which can be discussed include the following:


Blues from Europe

Bo Weavil
Davy Knowles (born 1987)
Cuby and the Blizzards
Herman Brood (1946–1991)
Eric Burdon (born 1941)
Yavuz Çetin (1970–2001)
Eric Clapton (born 1945)
Cyril Davies (1932–1964)
Christian Dozzler (born 1958)
Elmore D (born 1946)
Gary Moore (born 1952)
Fabio Treves (born 1949)
Peter Green (born 1946)
Rory Gallagher (1948–1995)
Jo Ann Kelly (1944–1990)
John Kirkbride (born 1946)
Alexis Korner (1928–1984)
Alvin Lee (born 1944)
John Mayall (born 1933)
Ana Popović (born 1976)
Todd Sharpville (born 1970)
Mick Taylor (born 1949)
Hans Theessink (born 1948)
Axel Zwingenberger (born 1955)

Blues from Latin America

Nuno Mindelis (born 1957)
Pappo (1950–2005)
Carlos Santana (born 1947)

Blues from Russia

Mike Naumenko (1955–1991)
Blackmailers

Blues from India

Indian blues

Wikipedia also mentions some of these folks as being blues musicians from Britain:

British Musicians associated with the blues (Some of these are duplicated)

Alexis Korner
Chris Farlowe
Long John Baldry
Jeff Beck
Duster Bennett
Graham Bond
John Bonham
Jack Bruce
Eric Burdon
Eric Clapton
Cyril Davies
Peter Green
Mick Jagger
Paul Jones
Wizz Jones
Jo Ann Kelly
Dave Kelly
Danny Kirwan
Paul Kossoff
Alvin Lee
Aynsley Lister
John Mayall
Tony McPhee
Gary Moore
Billy Nicholls
Jimmy Page
Duffy Power
Chris Rea
Keith Relf
Keith Richards
Paul Rodgers
Todd Sharpville
Jeremy Spencer
Rod Stewart
Mick Taylor
Top Topham

Those are some extensive lists. So I am puzzled how they could possibly overlook Jimi Hendrix!

byHarry Shapiro
bySharon Lawrence
by Charles R. Cross

We can also discuss Jug Bands and the Origins and History of the Blues

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jug_band

Here is a list of some of the blues standards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_...

We can also discuss some of the famous blues shouters:

A blues shouter is a blues singer, often male, capable of singing with a band.

The singer must project, or "shout", to be heard over the drums and musical instruments of the band. Blues shouting was a major pathway by which jazz music edged over into rock and roll. It was also popular before the advent of microphones.

Notable blues shouters included:

Big Joe Turner — whose style hardly changed at all between 1938's "Roll 'Em Pete", and 1954's "Shake, Rattle and Roll" — Turner was arguably the greatest exponent of the art.

H-Bomb Ferguson

Wynonie Harris

Signe Toly Anderson was a known blues shouter before joining Jefferson Airplane

Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, an unusual combination of blues shouter and bebop alto sax player

Walter Brown, of the Jay McShann orchestra

Jimmy Witherspoon, who also appeared with McShann

Jimmy Rushing, blues shouter with Count Basie

Source: Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_sh...

We could also discuss some of the instruments used in singing and playing the blues including:

Acoustic guitar · Harmonica · Electric guitar · Drum kit · Piano

This is something that a few of you might enjoy:

THE BLUES: THE RADIO SERIES

Good link:

http://www.yearoftheblues.org/radio/i...

There was a PBS special on the blues - here is a link -

http://www.pbs.org/theblues/

Here is a link to the Smithsonian - Blues Poetry

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/e...

Alisa wrote: "Those are some extensive lists. So I am puzzled how they could possibly overlook Jimi Hendrix!

byHarry Shapiro
[bookcover:Jimi Hend..."

Here I am trying to build up the thread and I missed your post as I was posting away myself. A very good add; there was a list of bands which I have not added as yet but will.

Some great looking books. Sorry I didn't see this at first.

Alisa wrote: "Delta blues fans regard Robert Johnson as one of the defining musicians of the genre. Haven't read this yet but it looks worth the read.
[bookcover:Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Inve..."

This looks like a fascinating history. Thank you Alisa.

Here is a list of the British Blues Musical Groups:

B

Back Door Slam
The Barcodes
Big Town Playboys
Blind Faith
The Blues Band
The British Blues Quintet

C

Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
Climax Blues Band
Cream (band)

E

Engine (boogie-rock band)
Eric Clapton's Powerhouse

F

Firebird (band)
Fleetwood Mac

G

The Groundhogs

H

The Hamsters
Hijak Oscar

J

The Jeff Beck Group

M

John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
Medicine Head
The Mustangs

N

Nic Armstrong & The Thieves
Nine Below Zero

P

Peter Green Splinter Group
Peter Green and Friends

Q

The Quireboys

R

Roogalator (band)
Ruthless Blues

S

Sam Apple Pie
The Snakes
Sons of the Delta
Steamhammer (band)
The Steampacket

T

Ten Years After
The Electric Revelators
The Odyssey Blues Band
Them (band)

W

The Web (band)
Winterville (band)

Y

The Yardbirds

Here is a list of "American blues musical groups"

7

7th Order (band)

A

Arc Angels

B

Beefy Red
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
The Butler Twins

C

The California Honeydrops
Canned Heat
Catfish and The Crawdaddies
Cephas & Wiggins
Gary Clark Jr.
Clayton Miller Band

D

The Derek Trucks Band
Double Trouble (band)

E

Eden and John's East River String Band
Electrofied
Ernie and the Automatics

F

The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Firework Show (band)

G
Grady (band)

H

Hazmat Modine
Heartless Bastards
Hindu Love Gods (band)
Homemade Jamz Blues Band
Hot Tuna

I

Indigenous (band)

J

JD & The Straight Shot
John Mayer Trio

K

Koerner, Ray & Glover

L

Left Lane Cruiser
The Legendary Blues Band
Leon & The Forklifts
Little Charlie & the Nightcats
Low-Country Messiahs

M

The Mannish Boys
Michael Hill's Blues Mob
Mississippi Heat
Mississippi Sheiks
The Mofo Party Band
Moreland and Arbuckle
Mulebone

N

The Nighthawks
Nocturnal Sunshine
North Mississippi Allstars

O

Omar & the Howlers

P

Pacific Gas & Electric (band)
The Paladins
Papa Salty
The Paul Thorn Band
The Prisonaires

R

The Red Devils (blues band)
Roomful of Blues

S

Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women
The Shaun Murphy Band
Siegel–Schwall Band
Sister Double Happiness
Soledad Brothers (band)
Soulganic
Spoonful (band)

T

Tarbox Ramblers
The Numbers Band

V

Visible from Space

W

West, Bruce and Laing
Winans family

Source: Also Wikipedia

This is a list of some blues historians we can discuss:

A

Clifford Antone

C

Samuel Charters

D

ED Denson

K

Don Kent (blues historian)

M

George Mitchell (music historian)

O

Paul Oliver

P

Robert Palmer (writer)

W

Gayle Dean Wardlow

Source: Also Wikipedia

List of films about blues music

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Films dealing with blues history or prominently featuring blues music as a theme include:

St. Louis Blues (1929): The only short movie with Bessie Smith

Sounder (1972)

The Blues Brothers (1980)

Crossroads (Walter Hill) (1986): A film about a "deal with the devil", with a soundtrack by Ry Cooder and a guitar duel between Ralph Machhio and Steve Vai.

The Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)

Cowboy Bebop (1999): Many of the episodes are influenced by and feature blues music.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

The Blues, a Musical Journey (2003): Martin Scorsese produced seven documentaries about the blues:

- Feel Like Going Home (Martin Scorsese): about the African origins of the Blues

- The Soul of a Man (Wim Wenders): about Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson and J. B. Lenoir

- The Road to Memphis (Richard Pearce) : focuses on B.B. King's contributions

- Warming by the Devil's Fire (Charles Burnett): fiction on a blues-based theme

- Godfathers and Sons (Marc Levin) : about Chicago blues and hip-hop

- Red, White & Blues (Mike Figgis) : About British blues-influenced music (e.g., Tom Jones, Van Morrison)

- Piano Blues (Clint Eastwood): Focuses on blues pianists such as Ray Charles and Dr. John

Ray (2004)

Richard Johnston: Hill Country Troubadour: Max Shores (2005) documentary about R.L. Burnside, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Junior Kimbrough, Richard Johnston and other north Mississippi hill country blues musicians

Black Snake Moan (2007)

Cadillac Records (2008)

From NPR: (Electronica Blues)

Belleruche: Electronica Gets The Blues

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

Synopsis on NPR:

If there's a genre called electronica blues, Belleruche's "Shudder and Cry" epitomizes it. DJ Modest's serrated digital beats recall a chain-gang rhythm, while Kathrin deBoer's quivering soprano accentuates the blues flavor as she sings about a wanderer's lost soul. In between, Ricky Fabulous sneaks in suitably spidery guitar licks.

In "Shudder and Cry," deBoer unravels the nightmarish tale of a man who confronts his inevitable demise with such epigrammatic lyrics as, "He says in life it's certain that you must die / It will catch you up and bring you down by surprise," alluding to the protagonist's difficult existence. When she croons the last verse — "The day he died a smile stretched across his face / Sober eyes lost the yearning and let him rest at ease / His soul found the lost man, returned him home to peace / Lost years, but at the end pure release" — it's clear that she views death as an act of mercy. The song's true colors become clearer, too, as Fabulous cuts loose a blues-drenched solo while deBoer sings the sorrowful chorus: "It's a crying shame."

Eden Brent: Carefree Blues With Mississippi Flavor

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

Synopsis on NPR:

Pianist Eden Brent is from Greenville, Miss., the great-granddaughter of a legendary towboat captain. As a teenager, she began an apprenticeship with Delta piano player Abie "Boogaloo" Ames, which turned into a partnership lasting 16 years. She says their pairing, although unlikely, had a profound effect on her musical development.

"He was an older African-American man; I was a younger white woman," she tells Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon. "I was from a more affluent family, and he was sort of from the other side of the tracks. To look at us, we seem opposites, and yet music forged this beautiful partnership that lasted until the end of his life. In fact, it lasts to this day."

Brent began piano lessons at age 5 and later went on to study music theory at the University of North Texas.

"The academic education that I achieved and the practical education from Boogaloo work so brilliantly together," she says. "It is so clear to me, in retrospect, that one without the other would not nearly have been as effective."

Brent was recently honored for her skills on the keys in May, when she won a Blues Music Award for Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year. Next month, she'll release a new album, titled Ain't Got No Troubles, which she recorded in New Orleans in an effort to try something new.

"For this project, I kind of just wanted to get out of my element a little, so I went downstream this time and wound up in New Orleans," she says. "It made it different and fresh."

A Song Interpreter

As more of a live entertainer, Brent says she sees recording as a new adventure. Despite the title track's somber lyrics, Ain't Got No Troubles has a lot of happiness to it. Brent says the juxtaposition was deliberate.

"It's that whole feeling about New Orleans, where there's loads of sadness, but also loads of joy," she says. "The blues is that way to me."

Brent says that while she admires classical pianists like Rachmaninoff and Liszt, she doesn't have that kind of discipline.

"I make a lot of mistakes. There's even mistakes on this new record, and every time I hear them, I'm delighted," she says with a laugh. "There's something lackadaisical about it. More carefree. And it's the freedom, I think, I enjoy — not having to be married to the score on the page."

Ain't Got No Troubles features songs written by Brent, but she's not a prolific writer. She says she's still discovering songs from 80 years ago, and can just as easily express herself with someone else's songs.

"I've referred to myself as a song interpreter," Brent says. "I don't like to rehash something that somebody else has done. ... The joy in it to me is to revel in what they have accomplished with their own tune and then to make it mine and new and fresh again."

Holy cow, Bentley! I can't remember the last time I said holy cow, but after looking over this amazing lot of information it is just all I can say. I have not yet determined if any of the posted links are to actual music, but I'd enjoy the chance to exchange links to blues performances and recordings as well. Is that okay?

There are some links to actual music here - check out links in 18 and 19. Please feel free to do just what you are suggesting. That is what all of these music links are for.

Bentley wrote: "Alisa wrote: "Those are some extensive lists. So I am puzzled how they could possibly overlook Jimi Hendrix!

byHarry Shapiro
[bookcove..."

Bentley, we must have been posting at the same time, what a coincidence, eh? I also noticed that Hendrix was listed but perhaps missed it among the list. Still look like interesting books, nonetheless. Thanks for adding these music threads!

Caught this last night on CSPAN and there is a link to a preview of the presentation on their site, found here ~
http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/201...

It was a panel discussion on Curtis Mayfield and The Civil Rights Movement, held at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in June 2010. Fascinating discussion of the influence of music, migration, and giving voice to the civil rights movement at the time.

Terrific add Alisa. - you should also place it on your civil rights thread.

Yep, just added it there too. Thanks.

Alisa wrote: "Yep, just added it there too. Thanks."

I think this is the full program link; I loved the excerpt Alisa.

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/program...

Alisa wrote: "Caught this last night on CSPAN and there is a link to a preview of the presentation on their site, found here ~
http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/201......"

Great link, Alisa. Thanks.

I had the pleasure of seeing Henry Butler this weekend play solo piano, much of it blues, all of it blues infused. He comes from the New Orleans tradition of Professor Longhair, Dr John, James Booker. Dr John has done a series of DVDs dissecting and explaining this music which is wonderful to watch even if you are not a pianist or musician.

http://henrybutler.com/bio_01.html
http://www.cherokeeranch.org/performi...

Listening to Henry' Boogie right now. Thank you for the link.

Garret wrote: "I had the pleasure of seeing Henry Butler this weekend play solo piano, much of it blues, all of it blues infused. He comes from the New Orleans tradition of Professor Longhair, Dr John, James Boo..."

Wonderful! What a treat to find out about Henry Butler. And blind photography. Wow. Thanks for posting this.

Ted Gioia

I haven't read this one but it looks good and Gioia is always excellent.

Here is a great young Australian blues artist Ash Grunwald

The Dolphin Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JaUbf...
Breakout http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abKkhN...
Skywriter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bcvc0...
Just be yourself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nThCw-...

Another Favorite of mine is Tom Waits I love the song Going out west http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27LLPA... and Jesus is gonna be here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRx-Ih...

I love his raw sound.

For those learning about Art Grunwald: (like myself)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Grun...

He has a good sound Michael.

The blues pianist Charles Brown speaks and plays here

When I lived in Cleveland, I had the great pleasure to see Robert Lockwood, Jr. many times. He lived in town.

Here is a short bio:
One of the last surviving roots bluesman of the twentieth century.

Robert Lockwood Jr. was born March 27, 1915 in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas, a farming hamlet about 25 miles west of Helena. 1915 was remarkable because several other monumental blues artists were born within a 100-mile radius that year; notably Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Little Walter Jacobs, Memphis Slim, Johnny Shines, and Honeyboy Edwards. They would all meet up in the future.

His first musical lessons were on the family pump organ. He learned the guitar, at age eleven, from Robert Johnson, the mysterious delta bluesman, who was living with his mother. From Johnson, Lockwood learned chords, timing, and stage presence. By the age of fifteen, Robert was playing professionally, often with Johnson; sometimes with Johnny Shines or Rice Miller, who would soon be calling himself Sonny Boy Williamson II. They would play fish fries, juke joints, and street corners. Once Johnson played one side of the Sunflower River, while Lockwood manned the other bank. The people of Clarksville, Mississippi were milling around the bridge; they couldn’t tell which guitarist was Robert Johnson. Young Lockwood had learned Johnson’s techniques very well.
(source: http://www.robertlockwood.com/)

Lockwood plays

Robert Johnson - Me and the Devil Blues filmpje

Thanks, Garret, say no more-music speaks for itself.

J.J. Cale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8uk7v...
blues, jazz, rock and country - what and where would we be without J.J.?

Little Jimmy Rushing singing "Going to Chicago," featuring Buck Clayton, trumpet, Vic Dickenson, trombone, Paul Quinichette, tenor sax and Billy Taylor piano.

Niiiiiiiice!

Since there is no thread for guitar I post this note here:

Cornell Dupree, master studio and session guitarist has died May 8th.
He played with Stuff, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Jimmy Hendrix, B.B.King - you name it.
Jazz, Blues, Soul, West Coast, anything - often with King Curtis, Steve Gadd, Eric Gale and Richard Tee.

SOme videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B3Gol...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q_c16...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUhxcN...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Loy55...

André wrote: "Since there is no thread for guitar I post this note here:

Cornell Dupree, master studio and session guitarist has died May 8th.
He played with Stuff, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Jimmy Hendrix, ..."

Awesome dude

Garret wrote: "André wrote: "Since there is no thread for guitar I post this note here:

Cornell Dupree, master studio and session guitarist has died May 8th...
Awesome dude ..."

You sure got that right, Garret! One of the best guitar players.

While posting on another thread I came across some nice videos of Texas Blues Great Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Being a huuuuge fan I'm sure I already posted some - probably in the guitar thread - but a few more can't hurt:

Pride And Joy acoustic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZkLVi...

Little Wing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAG-kX...

Mary Had a Little Lamb:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaX7Y1...

and my all time favorite, Tin Pan Alley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NxpO0...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqWi29...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwnfZj...

For sure, thanks.

Since we're in Texas, let's add some Biiig Legs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wGU3s...

Texas Blues Giant Freddy King

different band, different show, same Freddy, same legs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BXZbv...

Boogie Funk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBWID1...

Ain't No Sunshine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi9_NG...

Same Old Blues: (b.t.w. don't worry, it takes a few seconds for the music to start)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95YlwL...

Some more Freddy:

Tore Down:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9hlx2...

Tore Down (1966!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHKcby...

James Brown's Papa's Got A Brand New Bag:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWy5eP...

and James Brown himself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QskA8...

Thank you Andre for all of these wonderful adds on the music threads. Good job and a lot of great listening.

Glad you like these.

Jonny Lang, one of my favorite younger guitarists: Red Light

the video has some talk but at least the "crowd" keeps quiet...(also makes you wonder how Fox is not able to get better audio set up...)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pH5nc...

Another version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APbMQR...

And back in 97 in Paris - 16 years old!!!!! - can you believe this? What an amazing talent!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF5JU2...