1. Derived from African-American Folk Songs

2. Early English Definitions “Affected with fear, discomfort, anxiety,” as in “To look blue” occurs as early as 1550 in English (OED). Blue Devil – “the blue devils” = depression of spirits (1787).

3. Blues Defined A state of depression or melancholy. Often used with the. A style of music that evolved from southern African- American secular songs and is usually distinguished by a strong 4/4 rhythm, flatted thirds and sevenths, a 12- bar structure, and lyrics in a three-line stanza in which the second line repeats the first. “The blues is an expression of anger against shame and humiliation” (B.B. King).

4. Listening Lyrical expression – themes of interpersonal relationships most prominent, to include issues regarding romance, employment, or other societal conflict Interaction between singer and musical instruments “Complementing the blues” is the way in which an instrumentalist responds to the singer’s lyrics. Texture of instrumental combo Solo musician – most often guitar, piano, harmonica, vocals Group – bass, drums, guitars, harmonica, horns, vocals

5. Basic Blues Styles Rural blues (a.k.a. folk blues, country blues, Delta blues, Piedmont blues) Classic blues (usually a strong woman vocalist, such as Bessie Smith, with a Dixieland-style jazz group) Urban blues – sometimes known as Chicago blues due to many rural blues musicians migrating to Chicago in the 1930s and 1940s. Features electric instruments. Uptown blues – Sometimes known as West Coast Blues due to the evolution of an electric combo with a horn section that emerged in Oakland and L.A.

6. Folk Blues Country Blues Itinerant singers who traveled from work camp to work camp, providing entertainment on weekends, on streets, and house parties. Themes include interpersonal relationships, societal transgressions, and work environments.

7. Classic Blues Usually a strong- voiced woman, such as Bessie Smith (right), backed by a Dixieland-style jazz band. Played in traveling tent shows in black areas with large black populations which became the basis for “chitlin’ circuit”.

8. Urban Blues Rural blues musicians began moving north to cities, looking for work, and following those who were looking for work. Urban blues featured electric combos to combat urban noise. Muddy Waters (right) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaIT0m KJ7D0

9. Uptown Blues As blues musicians moved west and became influenced by the horn sounds of big band and jump blues, artists such as Oklahoman Lowell Fulson (right) started to include horns in his music. http://www.isound.com/lowell_fulson http://www.isound.com/lowell_fulson This style is called both uptown and West coast blues, and has been made most famous by B.B. King.