In the beginning there was the Blues

Before talking about rock in general, I must first tell you about the Blues

Ok, but what is the Blues?

Well here is a simple and effective definition of this asshole of wikipedia:

The blues is a musical and instrumental genre derived from the working fields of African-American populations. The blues appeared in the southern United States during the 19th century. It is a style where the singer expresses his sadness and setbacks.

Did it help you? NO

So yes the Blues is a musical style much used by African-American workers to express their living conditions and above all to change their minds a little, but you can imagine that if the blues has become so emblematic, it is not only thanks to this.

The term “Blues” comes from the English expression “blue devils” and it would have started to point the tip of its nose during the slave trade in the 19th century but would descend to the base of African culture and especially of Mali. Martin Scorsese talks about it very well in his film: “Feel like going home”.

This style is just the foundation of everything you love.

It is generally composed of 3 chords composed in 12 measures. This is called the “Twelve Bar Blues”.

It is the alpha and the omega. It has been transformed, completed and improved until it has given rise to thousands of variants. Including the famous Rock and Roll.

So why did it start, where, when, how?

The Dockery Farms Mississippi

So where are we?
We are in a very specific region of the United States. We are in the state of Mississippi and more precisely in a region called the Delta. It has very fertile soil and is one length between Vicksburg and Memphis.
In 1895, Will Dockery, a young man starting from scratch, decided to open a farm there where he would employ a lot of workers and trade with a little bit of everything that grows on its soil.
The longer it goes, the more the exploitation grows. It will hire more than 2000 workers and will house many infrastructures such as a police station, schools, churches, so that the families living there feel fulfilled and safe.

Over time the workers began to sing in the plantations, in harmony, with bare voices. Then they ended up gathering in the square to put on small musical shows.
The guitar appeared following the arrival of Mexican workers. Rural, raw and simple, thus was born the Delta Blues. A guitar, a bottleneck, a bit of harmonica, a voice that would wake the dead and that’s it.

The first Bluesman will then be a young worker from Dockery Farms: Charley Patton.

He would have started to work on music and the guitar since he was 14 years old. He will teach his guitar techniques to many employees and will make his first recording in 1929. It is he who will teach the giant Robert Johnson how to play this pretty little 6-string instrument.

Mississippi will also give birth to legends such as Son House, Willy Brown, Bukka White, Muddy Watters, BB King…

The exodus

We are during the crisis of 1930, it is the crisis of the great depression, there is great unspeakable poverty and especially in the countryside. And meanwhile, in the cities of the north there is a lot of money to be made, you think.
As a result, many of these workers from the south, no longer able to meet their needs and those of their families, decide to go into exile in the cities of the north. The Blues thus begins to resonate in the streets of Chicago.
In 1947, two Polish brothers Léonard and Phil Chess decided to open the Chess Records label which would welcome small names such as: BB King, Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters.
Then intervene on its bases of delta blues many more instruments. We see the appearance of the bass guitar, electric guitars, piano and even brass instruments. The legend was born: the Chicago Blues!
It is becoming more and more popular, thanks to its more electric, more groovy style but also because of its extremely diversified artists, who each have their own little particularities. It must make people dance and we attend long jams of several hours.

A little further east, only one guy decided to be a little grumpy and didn’t go to Chicago but to Detroit: It’s John lee Hooker

He will create the Detroit Blues… It’s like the Chicago Blues except it’s in Detroit!

Influences and developments:

While some old ones such as Blind Willie Johnson are dying out, the new ones are taking over and are becoming more and more successful!

Well when you don’t know, it’s hard to realize how much the Blues is the father of a UUuuuultra wide culture but really, it’s impressive.
Muddy Waters is still considered THE king of the Chicago Blues. He will play all over the world and it is he who will democratize this style.

BB king, Albert King and Freddy King will quickly become the 3 kings of the Blues guitar due to their particular style and their allure of the last blues men.

Speaking of king, Elvis will then appear mixing Rhythm and Blues and Country which will give birth to Rockabilly

And then, Chuck Berry, a young boy from Missouri, more energetic in his style, will go through Rhythm and Blues and create: Rock and Roll.

And then one day on a station platform, a little boy Mick is waiting for his train. He is holding a Chuck Berry album and a Muddy Waters best off under his arm.
On the other side of the platform, another little boy named Kiss decides to go talk to him, he too being a big Blues fan. They will become legends!

The guys still spent 30 years on their farm playing the Blues without telling anyone and after the Second World War, this style exploded and became the father and influencer of almost everything we love today. He will forever change global music culture.

Some names:

If there is a remark that we hear on the blues it is this one:

“All sounds the same!” »

And there is nothing more wrong. The blues there really is something for everyone, for all moods.

I tried to be as eclectic as possible but you will understand that I cannot be exhaustive. In fact, I am listing the ones that I listen to most often.

1 Skip James:

A head voice, a clean, calm, calm Blues.
I listen to Skip James a lot to work on, it relaxes and it does a lot of good to clear your mind.

2 and 3 Son House and Robert Johnson:

For Delta Blues in the pure tradition.
Always perfect for listening while working

4 Howlin Wolf:

We go here to Chicago Blues
A well chosen name for a guy with the voice of a wolf howling at the moon in the middle of the night.
It’s beautiful and very inspiring.

Of course for Chicago Blues go for BB King and Muddy Waters!

5 Queen Silvia Embry:

For me, the female Muddy watter. A groovy instrumental and a voice that carries

6 Mollie O’Brien:

Always a voice capable of piercing your soul.

7 Saffire:

Small discovery while writing this article. It’s a band from the 80s, 90s, made up of 3 women who play Chicago Blues

See you soon guys!