Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The history of a True American Musical Art Form, The Blues

Vocal Training Warrior: Vocal Training, Voice Lessons, Singers Voice Lessons, Speakers Vocal Training, Actors Vocal Training, Home Recording Studios, Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises, Clear Diction Exercises, Vocal Training Videos, Vocal Training E-books.

In the history of music there has probably not been one musical style that has influenced “Popular Music” more than Blues. Blues also is unique in that it is truly an “American” musical art form. As we will discover, the roots of the musical styles of Jazz, Rock, Gospel and musical artists from BB King, Elvis Presley, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin, all were heavily influenced by the Blues.

It is important to note that the term “Popular Music” as I have used it above is a bit misleading. Too often we mention Classical Music and Popular Music as too completely different musical expressions. I am not inferring that they are not very different from each other. What I am saying is that the word “Popular” actually only relates to the time period one lives in.

Let me explain. If we were living in Europe in 1786 when Mozart was 30 years old and in the height of his career (he died at age 36) his music would have been considered Popular, would it not? If there had been recording studios, radio stations, Mp3’s and iPods in 1786 would it be too naive and simplistic to conclude that one of his symphonies or piano concertos would have been a “Top-Ten Release?” And if so, would it not be considered “Popular Music?” I think you will admit that this is certainly an unconventional but truthful perspective.

Since Blues has been such a powerful influence, it is important to understand why. Following is a brief history.

The Blues were born in the North Mississippi Delta following the Civil War. Its heartfelt and passionate performances are deeply rooted in slavery and the African American culture. Early compositions were Field Hollers, Ballads, Church Spirituals and Rhythmic Dance tunes called Jump-Ups that showcased a singer who would engage in a call-and-response with his guitar. He would sing a line, and the guitar would answer. For many years, due to the lack of music education, multitudes of songs were recorded and passed on only by memory. Because of this fact, it is very possible that many a great song was “lost in translation.”

The Blues became the essence and hope of the African American laborer, whose spirit is wed to these songs, reflecting his inner soul to all who will listen. Rhythm and Blues is the cornerstone of all forms of African American music. The Blues, with it's 12-bar, dissonant 7th chord progression and its bent-note melodies were the early anthems of an oppressed race, bonding themselves together through their soulful cries for freedom and equality. From its origins at the crossroads of Highways 61 and 49, and the platform of the Clarksdale Railway Station, the blues eventually began to expand and headed north to Beale Street in Memphis.

The term "The Blues" refers to the "The Blue Devils", meaning melancholy and sadness. An early use of the term in this sense is found in George Coleman's one-act farce Blue Devils (1798). Though the use of the phrase in African American Music may be older, it has been attested to since 1912, when Hart Wands "Dallas Blues" became the first copyrighted blues composition.

The Blues form was first mainstreamed about 1911-14 by the black composer W.C. Handy (1873-1958). However, the poetic and musical form of the blues first crystallized around 1910 and gained popularity through the publication of Handy's "Memphis Blues" (1912) and "St. Louis Blues" (1914). Instrumental blues had been recorded as early as 1913. During the twenties, the blues became a national craze.

Mamie Smith recorded the first vocal blues song, 'Crazy Blues' in 1920. The Blues influence on jazz brought it into the mainstream and made possible the records of blues singers like Bessie Smith and later, in the thirties, Billie Holiday.

In northern cities like Chicago and Detroit, during the later forties and early fifties, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, and Elmore James among others, played what was basically Mississippi Delta blues, backed by bass, drums, piano and occasionally harmonica, and began scoring national hits with blues songs. At about the same time, T-Bone Walker in Houston and B.B. King in Memphis were pioneering a style of guitar playing that combined jazz technique with the blues tonality and repertoire. It is also important to mention that the roots of Jazz began with the Blues. So, if there were no Blues, there would be no Jazz!

In the early nineteen-sixties, the urban bluesmen were "discovered" by young white American and European musicians. Many of these blues-based bands like the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Canned Heat, and Fleetwood Mac, brought the blues to young white audiences, something the black blues artists had been unable to do in America except through the purloined white cross-over covers of black rhythm and blues songs.

Since the sixties, rock has undergone several blues revivals. Some rock guitarists, such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and Eddie Van Halen have used the blues as a foundation for offshoot styles. While the originators like John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins and B.B. King--and their heirs Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, and later Eric Clapton and the late Roy Buchanan, among many others, continued to make fantastic music in the blues tradition. The latest generation of blues players would be Robert Cray and the late Stevie Ray.

Today there are many different shades of the blues. Forms include:

Traditional County Blues - A general term that describes the rural blues of the Mississippi Delta, the Piedmont and other rural locales. 


Jump Blues - A danceable amalgam of swing and blues and a precursor to R&B. Jump blues was pioneered by Louis Jordan.

Boogie-Woogie - A piano-based blues popularized by Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson, and derived from barrelhouse and ragtime.

Chicago Blues - Delta blues electrified.

Cool Blues - A sophisticated piano-based form that owes much to jazz.

West Coast Blues - Popularized mainly by Texas musicians who moved to California. West Coast blues is heavily influenced by the swing beat. 


The public’s affection for the Blues only seems to be increasing. In Dana Point California, the city next to mine, Doheny Beach now has a yearly Blues Festival that keeps getting bigger and bigger. Others can be found in Portland, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and the list goes on.

As for me personally, Blues has always been a regular part of my life. When I play guitar and sing with other musicians, it is the easiest and most enjoyable form of popular music to “jamb” with. When I was growing up and my parents owned a music store and rock club called The Four Muses in San Clemente California from 1965 to 1975, we always had Blues groups performing. Most notable was the famous Blues Duo of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

My only personal problem with listening to a lot of Blues is that it can become very repetitious and not “fresh” sounding due to the consistent use of the standard 12 bar Blues Chord Progression. That said, I highly recommend that everyone make an attempt to listen to some live Blues this summer. The music and the crowd it attracts normally guarantee an enjoyable experience.

Thank you for reading!

Jonathan Morgan Jenkins

http://www.vocaltrainingwarrior.com

Buy Jonathan's best selling ebook on sale for only 9.95!
http://www.vocaltrainingwarrior.com/ebooks

http://www.youtube.com/vocaltrainingwarrior


Subscribe in a reader


27 comments:

Anonymous said...

viagra for sale without a prescription viagra and hearing loss viagra oral buy viagra soft online how to buy viagra viagra suppliers in the uk super viagra pro cheap viagra nz viagra 34434 is there a female viagra viagra alternative viagra doseage legal viagra viagra rrp australia

Anonymous said...

[url=http://community.bsu.edu/members/buy+online+Viagra.aspx]generic Viagra tablets[/url]

[url=http://eterporno.ru/web-sayty-znakomstv.php]web сайты знакомств[/url]
[url=http://eterporno.ru/loveplanet-ru-znakomstva.php]loveplanet ru знакомства[/url]

[url=http://pc.eterporno.ru/znakomstvo-biseksualov.php]знакомство бисексуалов[/url]
[url=http://pc.eterporno.ru/eroticheskie-rasskazy-intim.php]эротические рассказы интим[/url]

[url=http://pv.eterporno.ru/trans-intim-dosug.php]транс интим досуг[/url]
[url=http://pv.eterporno.ru/znakomstva-g-usinsk.php]знакомства г усинск[/url]

[url=http://px.eterporno.ru/www-rambler-ru-znakomstva-mamba.php]www rambler ru знакомства мамба[/url]
[url=http://px.eterporno.ru/znakomstva-dlya-seksa-v-tashkente.php]знакомства для секса в ташкенте[/url]

[url=http://pz.eterporno.ru/nizhegorodskiy-sayt-znakomstv.php]нижегородский сайт знакомств[/url]
[url=http://pz.eterporno.ru/prostitutki-tyazholyy-seks.php]проститутки тяжолый секс[/url]

Anonymous said...

Good day !.
might , probably curious to know how one can make real money .
There is no initial capital needed You may begin to receive yields with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you haven`t ever dreamt of such a chance to become rich
AimTrust incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

It is based in Panama with offices around the world.
Do you want to become really rich in short time?
That`s your choice That`s what you really need!

I feel good, I started to take up income with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to select a proper companion who uses your funds in a right way - that`s AimTrust!.
I take now up to 2G every day, and my first deposit was 1 grand only!
It`s easy to join , just click this link http://yhysehof.jamminweb.com/umysity.html
and go! Let`s take our chance together to get rid of nastiness of the life

Anonymous said...

[u][b]Xrumer[/b][/u]

[b]Xrumer SEO Professionals

As Xrumer experts, we have been using [url=http://www.xrumer-seo.com]Xrumer[/url] fitted a sustained immediately conditions and know how to harness the colossal power of Xrumer and adapt it into a Bills machine.

We also provender the cheapest prices on the market. Numberless competitors devise charge 2x or temperate 3x and a destiny of the time 5x what we responsibility you. But we believe in providing gigantic service at a tearful affordable rate. The unbroken point of purchasing Xrumer blasts is because it is a cheaper alternative to buying Xrumer. So we plan to support that mental activity in recollection and outfit you with the cheapest standing possible.

Not solitary do we be suffering with the most successfully prices but our turnaround time for the treatment of your Xrumer posting is super fast. We compel take your posting done ahead of you distinguish it.

We also outfit you with a roundish log of affluent posts on contrasting forums. So that you can catch a glimpse of also in behalf of yourself the power of Xrumer and how we have harnessed it to help your site.[/b]


[b]Search Engine Optimization

Using Xrumer you can wish to realize thousands upon thousands of backlinks in behalf of your site. Myriad of the forums that your Place you settle upon be posted on bear exalted PageRank. Having your link on these sites can really mitigate found up some cover quality help links and as a matter of fact as well your Alexa Rating and Google PageRank rating owing to the roof.

This is making your position more and more popular. And with this increase in reputation as familiarly as PageRank you can keep in view to appreciate your milieu really filthy expensive in those Search Motor Results.
Conveyance

The amount of see trade that can be obtained before harnessing the power of Xrumer is enormous. You are publishing your locality to tens of thousands of forums. With our higher packages you may regular be publishing your locale to HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of forums. Create 1 post on a all the rage forum will by enter 1000 or so views, with signify 100 of those people visiting your site. At once assume tens of thousands of posts on in demand forums all getting 1000 views each. Your traffic will associate at the end of one's tether with the roof.

These are all targeted visitors that are interested or curious far your site. Deem how assorted sales or leads you can execute with this titanic number of targeted visitors. You are literally stumbling upon a goldmine friendly to be picked and profited from.

Retain, Above is Money.
[/b]

GO YOUR INFERIOR ERUPTION TODAY:


http://www.xrumer-seo.com

Anonymous said...

[B]NZBsRus.com[/B]
Dont Bother With Sluggish Downloads With NZB Downloads You Can Instantly Find High Quality Movies, PC Games, MP3s, Software & Download Them at Maxed Out Rates

[URL=http://www.nzbsrus.com][B]Newsgroup[/B][/URL]

Anonymous said...

Good day, sun shines!
There have were times of troubles when I didn't know about opportunities of getting high yields on investments. I was a dump and downright stupid person.
I have never thought that there weren't any need in large initial investment.
Now, I feel good, I begin to get real money.
It gets down to select a correct partner who uses your money in a right way - that is incorporate it in real deals, parts and divides the income with me.

You can ask, if there are such firms? I have to tell the truth, YES, there are. Please be informed of one of them:
http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]

Anonymous said...

Infatuation casinos? invigorated sure of this advanced [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com]casino[/url] direct and tergiversate online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more at www.realcazinoz.com .
you can also inspection in view our up to the babe in arms [url=http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com]casino[/url] seed something at http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com and advance prevalent corporeal unfeeling currency !
another late-model [url=http://www.ttittancasino.com]casino spiele[/url] write is www.ttittancasino.com , in compensation german gamblers, goad not working online casino bonus.

Anonymous said...

alicia keys dating marriage man http://loveepicentre.com naked dating picture

Anonymous said...

[url=http://loveepicentre.com/faq.php][img]http://loveepicentre.com/uploades/photos/11.jpg[/img][/url]
free mature dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/articles.php]christian dating georgia[/url] online dating christians
all free woman dating site [url=http://loveepicentre.com/map.php]reenactors dating service[/url] ithaca dating
tl dating gdansk ppt [url=http://loveepicentre.com/faq.php]dating older guys dating younger women[/url] troy dunn dating jokes

Anonymous said...

[url=http://loveepicentre.com][img]http://loveepicentre.com/uploades/photos/7.jpg[/img][/url]
melbourne dating sites [url=http://loveepicentre.com/faq.php]local xxx dating[/url] maura tierney dating
herschede clock dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]dating a cancer man[/url] disabilty dating
david deangelo dating disinterest [url=http://loveepicentre.com/faq.php]dating central point oregon[/url] antique dating

Anonymous said...

[url=http://loveepicentre.com/faq.php][img]http://loveepicentre.com/uploades/photos/2.jpg[/img][/url]
dating military men [url=http://loveepicentre.com/testimonials.php]dating woman josh groban[/url] disability dating sites
online dating who seek [url=http://loveepicentre.com/taketour.php]plus size women dating[/url] gratis dating nedrland
asian dating boston mass [url=http://loveepicentre.com/success_stories.php]celebrity on line dating[/url] minneapolis dating lines

Anonymous said...

[url=http://loveepicentre.com/testimonials.php][img]http://loveepicentre.com/uploades/photos/5.jpg[/img][/url]
sex dating partner [url=http://loveepicentre.com/testimonials.php]internet dating verification site[/url] best dating pics
dating tip [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]online free dating in china[/url] angela simmons dating
teacher student dating faye [url=http://loveepicentre.com]how to delete a dating site[/url] young adams 10 comandments dating

Anonymous said...

[url=http://loveepicentre.com/articles.php][img]http://loveepicentre.com/uploades/photos/4.jpg[/img][/url]
los altos dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]sigles dating[/url] fish bowl dating
aim buddy dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/testimonials.php]100 free dating in holland[/url] dating jordan
chinese dating match [url=http://loveepicentre.com/taketour.php]dating websites maine[/url] i liked dating in the dark

Anonymous said...

world wide dating http://loveepicentre.com 100 free dating web sites

Anonymous said...

a rose in winter ebook http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/The-Serving-Leader-5-Powerful-Actions-That-Will-Transform-Your-Team-Your-Business-and-Your-Community/p146982/ free erotic ebook [url=http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/fr/Portlets-and-Apache-Portals/p105297/]ebook reader windows mobile 6[/url] three felonies a day ebook torrent

Anonymous said...

christian carter ebook torrent http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/de/Odyssey-02-2010-Odyssey-Two/p10195/ ebook dragonlance [url=http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/Genetic-Programming-9th-European-Conference-EuroGP-2006-Budapest-Hungary-April-10-12-2006-Proceedings-Lecture-Notes-in-Computer-Science-Theoretical-Computer-Science-and-General-Issues/p209219/]fundamentals of human neuropsychology ebook[/url] kama sutra ebook

Anonymous said...

wireless network architectures ebook http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/Web-Development-With-Sas-by-Example/p106305/ free pdf torrent ebook download [url=http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/fr/Yeast-Functional-Genomics-and-Proteomics-Methods-and-Protocols/p226719/]olive's ocean free ebook[/url] lynn picknet ebook download

Anonymous said...

catching fire free ebook http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/es/Professional-Visual-Studio-2010/p175712/ free djvu ebook [url=http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/fr/Generalized-point-models-in-structural-mechanics/p100318/]gates of splendor ebook[/url] ebook booklocker price

Anonymous said...

ebook on java language http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/fr/Drawing-theories-apart/p177749/ photo shop ebook [url=http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/Making-Big-Money-Investing-In-Foreclosures-Without-Cash-or-Credit/p136693/]ebook free norton jester[/url] fast food nation ebook

Anonymous said...

ebook get together right now john http://audiobooksworld.co.uk/authors/?letter=Id people of the lie evil ebook [url=http://audiobooksworld.co.uk/J-P-Moreland/m55372/]naked came the stranger ebook[/url] ebook software for large books

Anonymous said...

snow plowing software http://buyoem.co.uk/it/category-5/Diagnostica-di-PC?page=3 white crow software [url=http://buyoem.co.uk/product-33739/Adobe-Contribute-CS5-German]shrinkwrap software[/url] computer help with alpha 5 software
[url=http://buyoem.co.uk/product-20448/DVDinfoPro-5-2]DVDinfoPro 5.2 - Software Store[/url] swimming pool designer software
[url=http://buyoem.co.uk/fr/product-33398/Adobe-Contribute-CS5-MAC][img]http://buyoem.co.uk/image/3.gif[/img][/url]

Anonymous said...

global specialties software http://buyoem.co.uk/de/product-33469/DigitalAnarchy-ToonIt-2-51-for-Photoshop-CS3-x64 wi-fi scanning software [url=http://buyoem.co.uk/de/product-13705/Microsoft-Office-Visio-Professional-2007]service view crm software[/url] adobe imagestyler 1.0 windows used software
[url=http://buyoem.co.uk/product-36587/Microsoft-Windows-7-Ultimate-x32-Swedish]Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x32 Swedish - Software Store[/url] suretrack scheduling software
[url=http://buyoem.co.uk/product-36648/Konto-2011-6-3-German][img]http://buyoem.co.uk/image/4.gif[/img][/url]

Anonymous said...

xiamen software college http://buyoemsoftware.co.uk/de/product-37229/OfficePopup-2-4 tax return software canada [url=http://buyoemsoftware.co.uk/de/category-100-104/Software-Plugins?page=16]gant chart in software engineering[/url] dvd burining software
[url=http://buyoemsoftware.co.uk/category-11/System-Tools?page=5]System Tools - Software Store[/url] organ music writing software
[url=http://buyoemsoftware.co.uk/es/product-15005/gSync-1-0-Mac][img]http://buyoem.co.uk/image/4.gif[/img][/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/leukeran.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/2.jpg[/img][/url]
rated top pharmacy web sites http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/leukeran.htm pharmacy newport rhode island [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/cart.htm]optioncare specialty pharmacy division[/url]
report pharmacy incompetence http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/kamasutra-ribbed-condoms.htm viagra online pharmacy [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/lasuna.htm]lasuna[/url]
us discount pharmacy http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/seroquel.htm cvs pharmacy customer service [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/lotensin.htm]frontier pharmacy[/url]
purchase norvasc pharmacy http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/minocycline.htm xenical online new zealand pharmacy [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/categories/party-pills.htm]party pills[/url]

Anonymous said...

FubpellodeBed xaikalitag immuttyimpeft [url=http://uillumaror.com]iziananatt[/url] Gypealaph http://gusannghor.com CipdooriUrini

Anonymous said...

[url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/voltaren.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/5.jpg[/img][/url]
ponchartrain pharmacy http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/amoxil.htm natural pet pharmacy [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/kamasutra-longlast-condoms.htm]jordan pharmacy school[/url]
pharmacy management services incor http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/cart.htm clayman pharmacy [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/hyzaar.htm]hyzaar[/url]
medicare pharmacy insurances http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/viagra.htm cvs pharmacy pharmacists names louisiana [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/viagra-jelly.htm]pharmacy gaithersburg maryland[/url]
is pharmacy stressful http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/generic-imitrex.htm pharmacy board review and study guide [url=http://certifiedpharmacy.co.uk/products/cialis-soft-tabs.htm]cialis soft tabs[/url]

Anonymous said...

who is rachele brooke smith dating [url=http://freeinternetdating.info/socialnetwork/browse-myspace-friends-tool]browse myspace friends tool[/url] dating a working busy girl
preparation for dating for older woman http://freeinternetdating.info/singles/singles-dalton-ga sim dating game 2
mom's dating a vampire movie [url=http://freeinternetdating.info/marriage/platos-marriage]jehovah witness beliefs on dating[/url] dating a boy