2.  Once upon a time, Jim was reading a book about the blues and then he said the magic word “blacamico!” and he was in the book as he read through the book this is what he found out.

3.  The blues started back in the late 1800s when slavery was a big part of the economy. The

5.  They started singing these songs while out in the cotton and rice fields. They were call and response.

6.  Depending on what type of work the slaves were doing at that time would determine the tempo, which kept them in sync.

7.  These song helped the day go by faster by making the songs up on the spot.

8.  These songs were about Christianity and were considered sacred music with secret meanings.

9.  The songs could mean anything secret so their owners wouldn’t know about things like secret meetings and running away.

11.  Blues lyrics express many emotions about hardships of everyday life, especially back in the days of slavery.

12.  Mamie Smith was the first to record blues music in the 1920s

13.  Mamie’s version of Crazy Blues was such a success other record companies tried to find more female blues singers that could equal sales of “Crazy Blues".

14.  It was a very important record because it opened the recording industry to African- Americans.

15.  Bessie started out on the streets of Chattanooga performing.

16.  Started her career dancing in singing in a vaudeville, or traveling show.

17.  Bessie met a woman who was also on the tour, with her husband. Their names were Ma and Pa Rainey. Ma Rainey mentored Bessie. Ma Raine y Bessie Smith Pa Rainey

18.  Her Real name was Gertrude Pridgett

19.  Married William “Pa” Rainey which made her Ma Rainey

20.  Became a couple duo on a vaudeville show

21.  B.B. King was born Riley B. King, then went by his stage name Beale Street Blues Boy, later to be shortened to blues Boy King then eventually just B.B. King.

22.  B.B. King named all of his Gibson guitars Lucille, after a girl who a bar fight was over in Arkansas

23.  #1 Hit “Three O'clock Blues”

24.  McKinley Morganfield was his birth name

25.  When he moved to Chicago in 1943 he changed blues music forever with songs like “Rollin’ Stone” and “Feel Like Goin’ Home”

26.  He revived blues in the 80s and bridged the gap between rock and blues

27.  Many of his albums went gold

28.  Stevie Ray Vaughn died in 1990 in a tragic helicopter crash at the age of only 35.

29.  Her birth name was Eleanora Fagan

30.  Made her first album at 18 with both jazz and blues influences

31.  http://www.allaboutjazz.com http://www.allaboutjazz.com  http://www.redhotjazz.com/mamie.html http://www.redhotjazz.com/mamie.html  http://www.redhotjazz.com/bessie.html http://www.redhotjazz.com/bessie.html  http://www.redhotjazz.com/rainey.html http://www.redhotjazz.com/rainey.html  http://www.bbking.com/bio/ http://www.bbking.com/bio/  http://www.biography.com/people/muddy- waters-9525002#early-life http://www.biography.com/people/muddy- waters-9525002#early-life  http://www.srvofficial.com/us/home http://www.srvofficial.com/us/home  http://www.billieholiday.com/ http://www.billieholiday.com/