1. By: Mattie Dearth

2. One Day before school a little boy named Blues asked his mom where the Blues first started. Where did the Blues come from?

3. Blues mom told him when he got home after school they would go to the library and look up the Blues.

4. Blues found out information about Bessie Smith. Bessie Smith was a major Blues and Jazz singer with the title “Empress of the Blues”

5. After looking through books and books Blues finally found Mamie Smith. Mamie Smith was the first black female singer to record vocal Blues in the 1920’s.

6. Blues got really tired so him and his mom checked out some books about Ma Rainey, Trixie Smith, Charley Patton, Son House, Robert Johnson, and W.C. Handy.

7. Blues found a book on Ma Rainey. Ma Rainey sang blues in traveling songs for 20 years before recording her first record in 1923.

8. After Blues was done reading that book he found a book on Trixie Smith. Blues told his mom that Trixie Smith was born in Atlanta Georgia.

9. After reading about some Blues singers Blue got really tried so tired that he fell asleep while reading about Charley Patton.

10. Blue’s mom put Blue to bed and told him that he can do more research after school tomorrow.

11. The next day Blue came home from school and got out his book about Charley Patton. Charley Patton was considered to be the “Father of the Delta Blues.”

12. Blues started to read about Son House. Son House’s real name was Eddie James “Son” House Jr. Son House also played guitar.

13. Blues read a little about Robert Johnson. Robert Johnson was born in Mississippi and was dirt poor.

14. Finally Blues got down to his last book and it was about W.C. Handy. W.C. Handy remains among the most influential of American songwriters.

15. Blues still wanted to find out about more information about the Blues so Blue and his mom looked up about Field Hollers. Blues dad insisted to help while Blue’s mom made dinner.

16. Blue and his dad found out that Field Hollers were developed in cotton and rice fields during slavery.

17. Blue’s and his dad also found information about call and response. Call and response is when one person shouts/sings a phrase and a group of people will respond with the same phrase.

18. Blues then made up a work song so he could do his chores like clean his room.

19. Blues found out that work songs are used to reduce boredom and to synchronize the groups movements.

20. Blues finally found out all the information he needed to know about the Blues and was excited to go to school the next day and tell his friends.