Charles Carroll: A History of a Blues

The Blues originated as an artistic expression of African Americans in the south. This style of music reflected the attitudes and emotions of southern African Americans dating back to the early 1900’s. The blues is the basis for jazz, rhythm and blues, rock, and country. As blues legend Willie Dixon famously said, "The blues is the roots- the rest is the fruits". The blues is also the story of African Americans and their struggles that came with the end of slavery, Jim Crowe laws, segregation and the ensuing Civil Rights Movement. But with the popularity of the blues came a new-found respect and the hope that things were changing. This style of music gave prominence to African Americans, and out of the hopelessness of that time, came the hope that equality was becoming reality. Due to the socioeconomic difficulties faced by people in the south, large numbers of black people left the southern most states, with the hope of a better life north of the Mason Dixie Line. This migration of African Americans moving north brought the sounds of blues music to more urban places in the north, particularly Chicago, which became a hot bed for this new sound, sky-rocketing the blues into immense popularity.

Since most of the earlier blues artists were illiterate, few could read music either. This made improvisation of both lyrics and music a fundamental part and a hallmark of the blues. But from this improvisation evolved patterns, one of the most important and influential being the twelve bar blues, which is still widely recognized today. This pattern took form in the first decade of the twentieth century and consisted of three chords. The one chord, the four chord, and the five chord, with the seventh note flatted. This pattern is as...

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...at The Ramshead in Annapolis. This song is called Swanee River Boogie

Blues music is a true American art form. Its influence on generations of musicians and fans alike can not be overstated. It is also serves as an important lesson to the history of African Americans from the time of slavery and gives us an understanding of the life they had. It is very important to continue to teach the history of the blues to the next generations of musicians so that this musical art form is never forgotten. Through my own musical journey over the years, I have learned that music truly is the universal language. Music does not care how old you are, what color your skin is or what language you speak. Those values and experiences are now part of my true identity. I am proud to be a blues piano player and to be able to do my small part in keeping the blues alive. Thank you!