Blues

From Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia written in simple English for easy reading.

Early blues musician Bessie Smith
Enlarge
Early blues musician Bessie Smith

The blues is a form of music that started in the United States in the first half of the 20th century. It was started by former African slaves from spirituals, praise songs, and chants.

The blues have made a difference in newer American and Western popular music, such as jazz, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, hip-hop, and country music, as well as common pop songs.

[edit] Some blues musicians

  • Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)
  • Blind Blake (c. 1893-c. 1933)
  • Blues Brothers
  • Big Bill Broonzy (1893/1898-1958)
  • Ray Charles (1930-2004)
  • Robert Cray (born 1953)
  • Bo Diddley (born 1928)
  • Buddy Guy (born 1936)
  • John Lee Hooker (1917-2001)
  • Etta James (born 1938)
  • Robert Johnson (1909/1912-1938)
  • B. B. King (born 1925)
  • Leadbelly (1885-1949)
  • Taj Mahal (musician) (born 1942)
  • Memphis Slim (1915-1988)
  • Jelly Roll Morton (1890-1941)
  • Ma Rainey (1886-1939)
  • Bessie Smith (1894-1937)
  • Mamie Smith (1883-1946)
  • Big Joe Turner (1911-1985)
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954-1990)
  • T-bone Walker (1910-1975)
  • Muddy Waters (1915-1983)

[edit] External links

Find more information on Blues music by searching one of Wikipedia's sister projects:

 Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary
 Textbooks from Wikibooks
 Quotations from Wikiquote
 Source texts from Wikisource
 Images and media from Commons
 News stories from Wikinews

This short article needs someone to make it better.
You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.