The Significance of the Blues in History

How Britain Got The Blues: The Transmission and Reception of American Blues Style in the United Kingdom 8. V. Bogdanov, C. Woodstra, S. T. Erlewine. 2003. All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues. Pages 700-2.

Web. 28 Nov. 2010 Berlin, Edward A., A Biography of Scott Joplin. Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation, 1998. Web. 28 Nov. 2010 “The Classic Blues, 1900-1920s.” Calliope.org.Web.

“Cross Road Blues.” blueslyrics.tripod.com. Accessed December 8th 2013, http://blueslyrics.tripod.com/lyrics/robert_johnson/cross_road_blues_take_1.htm. Miller, James. Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll 1947-1977. New York: Fireside, 1999.

During the great depression many African-Americans migrated towards the north giving Blues a new identity with the advent of the electric guitar – Chicago Blues. Then in 1960’s and 70’s Blues increasingly merged with rock music. American culture started to wake up to racism and discrimination. People started looking and experiencing the African-American culture in earnest and music was one part of it. Blues also helped in the development of Rock-N-Roll.

Works Cited Burke, S. (2007, January 1). Rhythm of Blues. . Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://rhythmofblues.blogspot.com/2007/11/rhythm-of-blues-history.html. Cahoon, B.

(Crosby) Blues was a way of communicating discontent. But it was the spiritual blues that was the music of an unhappy people - the music that told of death, and suffering, and a cry for some hope of freedom and liberation from their torment. Yes, the slaves did get their freedom but were still bound to their "Chains" by racism. The content is written in the style of the blues not only in the music but in the social perspective of the times in Harlem in respect to the sufferings and struggles of the African-American past and present experiences, and what they were going to encount... ... middle of paper ... ...re that this was only a moment..." (246) But it was that moment that bridged Sonny and his brother. "They all gathered around Sonny and Sonny played.

8 (1974): 231-33. St. Louis University. Web. Apr.-May 2014. Ognibene, Elaine R. "Black Literature Revisited: "Sonny's Blues"" The English Journal 60.1 (1971): 36-37.

Various authors have varyingly explored the origins of the blues, as a genre, possibly because of its influence in modern-day music world. In fact, the blues significantly influence today’s music scene and it is common to find other music genres borrowing from the blues in terms of style, tunes, as well as other features. Nevertheless, the blues have emerged as a widespread genre since its inception in the United States in the early 19th century. It is believed to belong to the popular (commonly referred to as pop music) style of music. In addition, it is associated with African-American culture.

“[Langston Hughes] The first poet to transform the idioms of blues and jazz into poetic verse” (Johnson and Farrell 55). This use of blues in written work was called the blues aesthetics. Hughes’s “Bound No’th Blues” is a perfect example of the Blues Aesthetics. “The blues reflects the trials and tribulations of the Negro in America on a secular level” (Waldron 140). “Bound No’th Blues” reflects the journey of a southern African American who m... ... middle of paper ... ...l icons of the Harlem renaissance because of his poetry and musical talent.

For the most part, their heritage was all the slaves had to hold onto. Their existence was often as unbearable as their future was bleak. Song and dance was their only way to express themselves and hold on to some semblance of cultura... ... middle of paper ... ...a would not be the same if it weren’t for its African influence. Works Cited Baraka, Amiri. “Afro-Christian Music and Religion.” Blues People.