HISTORY OF BLUES

Intersession: Popular Music

Early Blues Early blues music had its

roots on Southern plantations. Many of its lyrics and rhythms

come from slave songs and West African culture.

The term “blues” most likely has its origins in the indigo plant that was used to dye clothing blue for funerals.

Early blues artists include Robert Johnson, W.C. Handy, and Ma Rainey.

The earliest known blues song was “Memphis Blues”. (W.C. Handy)

Blues often gets divided into two categories: Rural-only a banjo or guitar Urban- Full instrumentation

Ma Rainey

Early Blues: Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson was born in 1911 in Mississippi.

Legend has it that he sold his soul to the devil to become the greatest guitarist alive.

He is widely regarded to be one of the most influential musicians of all time.

He was poisoned in 1938 by a jealous husband after Robert Johnson flirted with his wife.

Blues Explosion

During the 1950s the blues became “electrified” and began to work its way into popular music and culture with the beginning of Rock and Roll music.

The Great Migration of Blacks from the rural South to the urban North also lead to a change in Blues music from rural blues to urban blues.

Important artists of the time period include Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, and B.B. King.

Rock Meets Blues

In the late 1960s many British and American Rock artists began to incorporate the blues more heavily into their music. Muddy Waters toured the

United Kingdom in the 1960s, he is credited with spreading the blues abroad.

This lead to a revival of important blues artists from the past, like B.B. King and Buddy Guy.

Important artists of this era include: The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zepplin

1970s to the Present

Stevie Ray Vaughn had tremendous success during the late 1970s and 1980s until he died in a plane crash after playing a show in Wisconsin.

The Blues continues to influence guitar players of every type of music.

Today the influence of the blues can be heard in the music of the Black Keys, Alabama Shakes, and John Mayer (yuck!)

The Blues remains to be the root of all popular music.

HISTORY OF JAZZ

Intersession: Popular Music

The Origins of Jazz

Jazz music is usually traced back to ragtime music made popular by Scott Joplin.

Jazz music developed its own distinct style, incorporating influences from blues, ragtime, classical music, and African rhythms.

Early Jazz musicians include Jelly Roll Morton, Buddy Bolden and Louis Armstrong.

The Jazz Age

During the Prohibition Era and the 1930s, jazz became the most popular music in the United States.

Jazz was key in bringing White and Black audiences together.

Swing music, a form of jazz was the dominant dance music of the time.

Key artists of the time include: Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Benny Goodman.

The 1950s – 1970s: Experimenting

Bebop: Much more challenging

and demanding music. Point where jazz switched

from dance music to an “art form”

Thelonious Monk, Charlie “Birdman” Parker, and Dizzy Gillepsie

Cool Jazz: Calmer and smoother

than bebop. Music to relax to. Miles Davis & Art Blakey

The 1950s – 1970s: Experimenting Free Jazz:

Inspired by bebop. Not much structure, more

experimental. Charlie Mingus, John

Coltrane, Ornette Coleman

Experimental Jazz: Incorporated different

world musical styles. Strange or non-traditional

instruments Miles Davis & Frank Zappa

Jazz & Hip Hop

Jazz has had a tremendous influence on many types of music, especially hip hop.

What is considered to be the “golden age” of Hip Hop sampled jazz heavily.

Artists include: A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Nas, Outkast, and Shabazz Palaces