Nothing But the Blues: The Music and the MusiciansIn eleven authoritative essays this book traces the African-American origins of the music, its early development as popular entertainment, its early recorded manifestations, its regional differentiation (Mid-South, Tidewater-Piedmont, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Los Angeles), its many stylistic dimensions, and its contemporary manifestations. Country blues, urban blues, the evolution of rhythm and blues, rock 'n' roll, and the blues revival are all fully covered. But the written history is only part of the story. Blues fans have always treasured rare photographs of their heroes, and this volume is gloriously illustrated with posed and candid shots of the musicians as well as photographs of such one-of-a-kind artifacts and documents as Leadbelly's NYPD rap sheet and classic recording contracts. This book features an introduction by one of the genre's living legends, B. B. King, and a comprehensive "best of the best" discography, including current and rereleased recordings as well as the collectors' treasures to go after. Blues is more popular than ever before. Not only are reissues of historical blues classics selling in unprecedented numbers, but a whole new crop of vital young blues artists is active in clubs and on record today. This is a lavishly illustrated comprehensive history of the music and the musicians, as well as the promoters, producers, and others who have shaped--and continue to shape--this powerful and enduringly popular American musical art form. |
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accompanied African African-American album audience B. B. King ballads banjo barrelhouse bass became Bessie Smith Big Joe black music Blind Lemon Jefferson Blind Willie blues artists blues recording blues revival blues singers bluesmen Boogie Broonzy brother Brown Charley Patton Chatmon Chess Chicago church cities Columbia commercial recordings country blues dance Decca Delta early Georgia gonna gospel guitar guitarist harmonica heard included instrument Jackson James jazz Jimmy John Lee Hooker Johnny Jug Band label later Leadbelly Lightnin Little living Lomax Lonnie Johnson Louis Louisiana McCoy Memphis Memphis Minnie Mississippi Muddy Waters musicians Okeh performed pianist piano pieces played player popular radio ragtime Rainey record companies recording career repertoire rhythm and blues rhythmic Robert Johnson rock sang session singing solo Son House songs Sonny Boy sound South southern Street string studio style Tampa Red Texas tour tradition tunes urban Victor vocal Vocalion voice Walker York