The Blues

Fun Facts About The Blues

• Blues music, with its 12-bar structure, directly influenced early rock pioneers. Artists like Elvis, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin borrowed heavily from it.
• The AAB lyric pattern is a hallmark of blues music. It consists of a statement (A), repeated with slight variation (A), and concludes with a rhyming line (B) that provides a twist or emotional punchline.
• The blues originated in the Deep South of the U.S., especially the Mississippi Delta, in the 1880s–1890s.
• Robert Johnson is arguably the most famous blues legend. Hailed as the "King of the Delta Blues", it's said he sold his soul in exchange for mastery of the guitar.
• Blues traveled north during the Great Migration (1910s–1970) when over 6 million blacks moved to northern cities. They brought Delta Blues into Chicago, electrifying their guitars and adding amps to be heard over the noisy urban environment.
• Blues musicians often used nicknames, like Muddy Waters, Hound Dog Taylor, and Blind Willie Johnson.
• Based on historical influence, the Great Migration, and enduring live scenes, the top blues music cities include:
  • Chicago, Illinois – home to Chess Records, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Willie Dixon
  • Memphis, Tennessee – Beale Street was the epicenter for early blues; home to Blues Hall of Fame
  • Clarksdale, Mississippi – home to Delta Blues Museum, Juke Joint Festival and Ground Zero Blues Club
  • New Orleans, Louisiana home to Professor Longhair, Earl King, Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
  • St. Louis, Missouri home to Peetie Wheatstraw and Albert King, the National Blues Museum
  • Austin, Texas home to Stevie Ray Vaughan, venues like Antone's, C-Boy's Heart & Soul, Skylark Lounge
  • Detroit, Michigan famous artists include John Lee Hooker, and later Jack White
• Top blues venues in the U.K. include Ain't Nothin' But (Soho), The Blues Kitchen (Camden), Ronnie Scott's (Soho), and St. Harmonica's (Southgate)