History of the blues book

Learn blues guitar book about the history of the styles of. Timothy duffy is on a mission to document americas vernacular music specifically, the blues and the everyday men and women who carry on the tradition. Francis daviss the history of the blues is a groundbreaking rethinking of the blues that fearlessly examines how race relations have altered perceptions of the music. He was internationally famous by the time he wrote his 1941 memoir, father of the blues, although stepfather might have been a more accurate label for the role he played in bringing blues. Project blue book the washington merrygoround sneak peek 0. A history of blues as both a musical style and a social expression. The music had changed from solo, acoustic, country music to ensemble, electric city music.

However, the poetic and musical form of the blues first crystallized around 1910 and gained popularity through the publication of handys memphis blues 1912 and st. Early blues musicians would sing a line and their guitar would answer. The simple but expressive forms of the blues became by the 1960s one of the most important influences on the development of popular music. May 11, 2015 early blues songs were sung by slaves, exslaves, and their descendants. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. From the first reported sightings of blues musicians to the onset of the great depression, this is the most comprehensive and complete account ever written of the early stars of blues guitaran essential chapter in the history of american music. Most books follow a rather romanticised approach and why is there so much written about robert johnson. In 1908, antonio maggio published the first blues sheet music titled i got the blues. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. Here komara and johnson answer the question of not only what is a blues book, but which ones are worth owning.

In the 1930s and 40s a huge number of black americans migrated north to chicago and the blues went with them. His books include the king on the road produced in cooperation with the elvis presley estate at graceland, the acclaimed biography cant be satisfied. The blues is a genre of music that has deep roots in american culture, particularly in the south. He believes that attempts to discover the origins of the blues, often based on simplistic theories about slavery and africa, are inconclusive, and he stresses that the interaction between. Another popular category of blues book is the history or survey. Lower east sidebased beat poet published a book titled blues people. Francis davis challenging many accepted notions about the blues, a combination of cultural commentary, musical analysis, research, and visual images provides a new perspective on an enduring musical form and its. The blues form, ubiquitous in jazz, rhythm and blues and rock.

Blues is very heartfelt and does not involve the rigidities of classical music or the showiness of the metal, rock and pop genres of music. Hes the cofounder of music maker relief foundation, a nonprofit that helps struggling and aging musicians. This book by davis does a pretty good job of tracing the chronological development of the blues, although it is weak on context and the last few chapters are. Urban blues had become national music, not regional music, but it was still the music of african americans. From its roots in the turnofthecentury honkytonks of new orleans and the barrelhouses and plantations of the mississippi delta to modern legends such as john lee hooker and b.

Tracing its origins from the mississippi delta to its amplification in chicago right after world war ii, davis argues for an examination of the blues in its own right, not just as a precursor to jazz and rock n roll. Oct 23, 2017 dan oneill is the author of a new book about the history of the st. The history of the blues book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading. Jan 01, 1995 francis daviss the history of the blues is a groundbreaking rethinking of the blues that fearlessly examines how race relations have altered perceptions of the music. Since the early 1900s, blues and the guitar have traveled side by side. There are many fine books on the blues, so i thought i would share with you my recommendations.

Get exclusive videos, pictures, bios and check out more of your favorite moments from seasons past. Project blue book schedule and full episodes on history canada. Louis blues, is coming in time for the holidays and is available now for presale. King, a veteran blues guitarist, talked about his career, the history of blues music, the teaching of blues in schools, and other topics. The book covers the history of the guitar and of the blues, including a personal appreciation of the great musicians who have shaped the genre and. Paul hereford oliver mbe 25 may 1927 15 august 2017 was an english architectural historian and writer on the blues and other forms of africanamerican music. While the blues often deal with personal adversity and sadness. Louis blues chairman tom stillman and an introduction by blues captain alex pietrangelo, history made is the only official commemorative book produced by the st. The book is more remarkable, however, as an incredible pictorial and documentary history of the blues with more than 300 illustrations including recording contracts. Reedy press the team leads the central division after beginning its 51st campaign earlier this month. The history of the blues is a very readable account of a century of confusion, best approached with an open and attentive mind.

Lovatos system of blues guitar instruction, built on his lifetime of teaching, can bring musicians of any level to a rewarding and creative lifelong. In the 1950s the blues had grown up from country music into something we call urban blues. Heavily influenced by african rhythms and traditions brought to the states by african slaves and by the spirituals, field hollers, work songs, and ballads developed over centuries of slavery and during the postcivil war era, the blues became among the most influential genres of music the blues arose out of the american deep south around the turn of the twentieth century. The book isnt meant to be a study of individual blues musicians. Tracing its origins from the mississippi delta to its amplification in chicago right after world war ii, davis argues for an examination of the blues in its own right, not just as a precursor to jazz and rock n.

Browse new and enduring titles on ancient history, european history, the civil war, u. The history of the blues 1995 edition open library. Download the history of the blues in pdf and epub formats for free. Francis daviss the history of the blues is a groundbreaki. Sugar blues is a book by william dufty that was released in 1975 and has become a dietary classic. The best way to understand the blues is to visit our blues videos page and watch and listen to the. Born in memphis, consulting editor robert gordon is one of the worlds most highly respected blues historians. A history of the events and people who defined the mississippi blues. Michael v uschan text and photographs look at the history of blues music. Feb 25, 2014 as promised, i finally managed to track down the first part of this documentary about american blues. Francis davis, the history of the blues 1995 if youre only going to read one book on the blues, make it this one.

Francis davis discusses the history of blues music from its origins in the mississippi delta to its peak in chicago right after world war ii to its current popularity with whites in urban clubs. Blues, secular folk music created by african americans in the early 20th century, originally in the south. Blues is a musical art form with its own distinct musical progressions and much more. The roots, the music, the people by davis, francis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The blues arose out of the american deep south around the turn of the twentieth century. Over its 25year history, music maker has helped more than 400 artists, most of them in the latter stages of life. Catch up on season 1 of project blue book, only on history. Nov 09, 2008 as robert palmer did in deep blues 1981 a slimmer, more mysterious, more urgent book gioia fills an early chapter with the findings of charles peabody, the harvard archaeologist. The author deftly traces the evolution of the blues from the work songs of slaves, to acoustic country ballads, to urban sounds, to electric rhythm and blues bands.

The history of the blues by francis davis abebooks. History made, an exclusive, commemorative book chronicling the 2019 stanley cup champion st. A roots music form that evolved out of africanamerican work songs, field hollers. Tracing its origins from the mississippi delta to its amplification in chicago right after world war ii, davis argues for an examination of the blues in its own right, not just as a precursor to jazz and.

The history of the blues is a very readable account of a century of confusion, best approached with. Check car prices and values when buying and selling new or used vehicles. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads. He wrote some of the first scholarly studies of blues music, and his. The history of the blues by andy koopmans goodreads. Following his prepared remarks, he took questions from. Learn more about blues, including notable musicians. The blues was born in the deep south, principally the mississippi delta, in the last decade of the 19th century. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It is speculated that the term may have come from the term blue devils, meaning melancholy and sadness. Bitten by the blues is also an expansive history of half a century of blues in chicago and around the world, tracing the blues recording business through massive transitions, as a genre of music originally created by and for black southerners adapted to an influx of white fans and musicians and found a worldwide audience.

Oliver is one of the most respected and prolific writers on blues history and this is a very readable overview of the origins and evolution of blues in the 20th century. He was equally distinguished in both fields, although it is likely that aficionados of one of his specialties were not aware of his expertise in the other. Oliver vividly recreates the economic, social, and regional forces that shaped the unique blues tradition, and superbly details every facet of the music, including themes and subjects, techniques, and recording history. Deep blues robert palmer robert palmers book focuses on the deltachicago connection, loaded with fascinating stories and profiles about people and places. As baraka is a poet and black militant, this book is pursued by collectors of several categories. I dont think you can learn about the history of the blues from one book. List of books and articles about blues music online. King, the blues comes alive here through accounts by the blues musicians themselves and those who knew them. The author deftly traces the evolution of the blues from the work songs of slaves. Louis blues history highlighted in new book by former st. From its roots in the turnofthecentury honkytonks of new orleans and the barrelhouses and plantations of the mississippi delta to modern legends such. Superbly researched and vividly written, the devils music is one of the only books to trace the rise and development of the blues both in relation to other forms of black music and in the context of american social history as experienced by african americans.

The book is more remarkable, however, as an incredible pictorial and documentary history of the blues with more than 300 illustrations including recording contracts, rap sheets, and historic photos of the performers themselves. During prohibition, musicians played the urban blues in honky tonks, bars that illegally served alcohol. Although written to accompany a threepart series on pbs, this book is more substantive than most tv tieins. One of the most collectible of these is amiri barakas blues people 1963, written under the name leroi jones, the first modern blues book by an african american. I bought the story of the blues back in the olden days and for 25 years until the internet existed it was never far from my side. A short blues history the history of rock and roll.

A musical and cultural history of the mississippi delta by robert palmer, escaping the delta. Giles oakley the devils music is one of the only books to trace the rise and development of the blues both in relation to other forms of black music and in the context of american social history as experienced. Best book on the history of the blues michael messer forum. Jul 07, 2019 the book includes a compilation album so you can hear the music behind the faces. In 1920, mamie smith was the first african american to record blues music. Blues history blues is an american heritage, and it should be noted as such.

Starting with the story of a chance meeting between w. Search for library items search for lists search for. As more blacks were moving to urban areas like chicago, the urban blues genre was born. Heavily influenced by african rhythms and traditions brought to the states by african slaves and by the spirituals, field hollers, work songs, and ballads developed over centuries of slavery and during the postcivil war era, the blues became among the most influential genres of music in the history of. The weary blues, dream variations, the negro speaks of rivers, a black pierrot, water front streets, shadows in the sun, and our land. Urban blues had a more aggressive sound than classic blues. Cohn, a grammy awardwinning blues producer, brings together eleven essays on the development of the blues from its beginnings, marshalling some of the best writers on the subject. What are the best books about the history of blues music. One suggestion would be to start with a book like leroi jones. The history of the blues download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. From charley patton to robert cray by davis, francis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The blues form is characterized by a callandresponse pattern. Blues is a music genre and musical form which was originated in the deep south of the united states around the 1870s by africanamericans from roots in african musical traditions, africanamerican work songs, and spirituals. Learn blues guitar book of history for insights to the blues.

The blues is one of americas greatest musical treasures. If you have any blues books you dont want, please let me know. Reviews the nonfiction book the history of jazz, by stuart a. The negro experience in white america and the music that developed from it. The history of the blues by francis davis, 1995, hyperion edition, in english 1st ed.

The list starts with general books of the blues essential reading, followed by blues artists in alphabetical order, interjected with blues books on particular themes. This book provided a good balance to the others and. At the same time, the blues spilled over into memphis. Francis davis, the history of the blues if youre only going to read one book on the blues, make it this one. The blues means a lot of things to a lot of people. The blues form was first popularized about 191114 by the black composer w. Blues is one of the most soulful forms of music and you should learn blues guitar book of history of which there are many. Dec 16, 2019 the initial investigation resulted in the formation of project blue book in 1952.