A History of the Blues

The Blues

"I've got the blues."

Has anyone ever said that to you? Have you ever had the blues?

For a long time now the word "blue" has been used to describe something more than one of our favorite colors. When people feel lonely and sad, cheated and confused, they can have the blues. African-Americans living in America's southern states started this music almost one hundred years ago. Many of these Americans were poor and treated unfairly and they took comfort in making music that let them talk about their feelings. At the same time, blues songs could be upbeat and danceable, allowing the audience to have a good time and "chase the blues away."

Musicians used guitars, banjos and harmonicas to accompany their singing and often performed at outdoor parties or on street corners. Some became quite well known and made the first blues records. Women singers were the first artists to make blues popular through recordings and live performances.

In the 1940's, blues music became popular in the northern cities like Chicago. The audience wanted the music faster and louder, so a new invention called the electric guitar was used along with piano and drums. People could really dance to this music, and began to call it rhythm & blues. One of the famous Chicago blues musicians had the interesting name "Muddy Waters."

In the 1950's, teenagers were ready for another change. Musicians played the blues fast with light-hearted lyrics and the music entered the popular mainstream. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis all found a way to use the blues form in their music. These wild performers had invented Rock & Roll!

Today musicians are still playing all styles of blues. You may have heard of Eric Clapton, Ruthie Foster, Bonnie Raitt or Robert Cray, who all play old and new songs based on the blues. Blues can be played and sung in many ways and is now popular around the world.

Monk Rowe
P.O. Box 174
Washington Mills, NY 13479
Phone: (315) 725-6460
E-Mail: monk@monkrowe.com