The Blues

What is the blues? Origin is unknown Started as a form of black folk music Early blues players were outcasts of the community

Characteristics of The Blues 12 Bar blues Lyrics

Blind Lemon Jefferson

Lightning Hopkins

Tbone

“And now, at this time we would like to do something we’re sure that each and everyone can understand, and that’s the blues… everyone can understand the blues.” - Ray Charles

Johnny Winter

“ If you could play an instrument or can sing you were allowed up to the mic, it was like a competition but with no prizes involved… only the attitude.” - Al Reed

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Albert King

“The music we play, me, BB king, people like that, that music is roots “The music we play, me, BB king, people like that, that music is roots. It all comes from the blues.” - Johnny Lee Hooker

Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughn Jam Session

BB King

“When you aint got no money, you’ve got the blues, when you aint got no money to pay the rent, you still got the blues. A lot of people holler I don’t like no blues but when you aint got no money, and cant pay the rent and you cant buy no food, you damn sure got the blues.” - Howlin’ Wolf

“See my blues are not as easy to play as some people think they are, I may have 13 beats in some songs, and the average man, he not used to that sort of thing” – Muddy waters

Lucille

“I woke up this morning black snake was making such a ruckus in my room. And It’s called The Black Snake Moan.” - Blind Lemon Jefferson

Janis Joplin

“ You know there’s only one blues though “ You know there’s only one blues though. That’s the regular 12 bar pattern, then you interpret off of that. You cant dress up the blues.” - T-Bone Walker