Almost every music genre out there in the world today has some relation to the Blues. Country, rock and roll, pop, folk, and even hip-hop has a connection with the blues. Although somewhat different that other kinds of music, the blues were only recorded by memory and through generations, passed down. The blues began in the Mississippi Delta during the Civil War. Influenced by African roots, ballads, religion, and even field-hollers. It was created by those who were slaves that where brought to the United States. The songs include ways that express their hardships, religion, passion, and everything in their lives daily. The blues really came out in the 1920’s and 1930’s, but then made a comeback in the 1960’s when people other than blacks started …show more content…
At the end of the 19th century, the United States was rural. As cities got larger, more people from the South moved to the areas farther north. Doing this, they brought their music up with them. People moved into cities such as St. Louis, Chicago, and Detroit. Blues became popular in these cities. With the rise of the blues in the 1930’s and 1940’s, there are have been many variations of the blues. City Blues was a hit in the cities. Played mostly in black bars and clubs. City blues came with bands that were amplified. This form of blues was a major hit. Artists like B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf become sensations. This variation of the blues really took off in the later years with musicians like Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaugh (who I like to listen to from time to time). Although the blues were mostly sung in the bars and the clubs, it wasn’t always in enlightenment. During the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s, blues songs were sung on marches, picket lines, and even in jail. Author William Roy states that “the movement’s Freedom Songs never gained commercial success, yet contributed to the wider achievements of the Civil Rights struggle” (Roy, 2010). Another quote by Roy that really stood out to me is that he said “While there is no pretense in music alone can fortify social movements to affectively to confront the formidable structures and commitments that drive the engines of racial domination, examining the intersection of music, social movements, and race can hopefully deepen our understanding and appreciation for an important piece of the intricate and perplexing processes that improve the society we live in” (Roy, 2010). Music plays a huge role in society, but I think that the blues play a huge part. The blues were usually heard in all-black establishments, but during the 1960’s is when the music was introduced into other races. One of the greatest bluesmen of all time is B.B. King. He played at the Fillmore in