List of blues musicians with name, birth year, death year, origin, primary style, and references name birth year death year origin primary style refs mozelle alderson. They come from different eras and include styles such as ragtimevaudeville, delta and country blues, and urban styles from chicago and the west coast. I am not trying to screw anyone out of royalties, etc. Aspects of the blues tradition, savannah syncopators. Elvis presley is seen as the catalyst for the cultural phenomenon of rock and roll, helping to merge the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues music. He is, of course, the world renowned bill nye the science guy, but for a couple hours at a riders show hes bill nye the cowboy guy. The top ten best blues artists 1 robert johnson robert leroy johnson was an american blues singersongwriter and musician. Apr 07, 2011 rolling stone s definitive list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Please help improve this list by adding citations to reliable sources. African retentions in the blues, songsters and saints. Educational educational books including study guides, analysis books, guides to schools and festivals, contact directories, yearbooks and other reference material for singers. This guide lists childrens books and young adult literature about music and musicians. Search the internet for the 100 best songs or best albums. From the frantic birth of rocknroll to the rages of punk, these books capture the excitement of popular music. When playing an instrument, being able to see is definitely helpful, right.
The blues grew out of african spirituals and worksongs. Singing books, audio books and repertoire for singers. Books that every music lover should read penguin random house. The devil is the most charismatic and important figure in the blues tradition. For links to rock, reggae, jazz, and more music lists, click main music page. This songbook provides a nice spoonful of blues by artists from the fifties chuck berry and elvis, the sixties cream, the seventies zz top, acdc, led zeppelin and deep purple, the eighties stevie ray vaughan and the.
Edward komara is the crane librarian of music at the state university of new york at potsdam. The singer, guitarist, and songwriterbest known for his work with wilcoopens up about his past, his songs, the music, and the people who have inspired him. Honey, if it wasnt for the blues, we probably wouldnt have anything to listen to except our toenails growing. Blues artists all about blues musicyour online blues. A brilliant rock journal capturing an english bands us tour in the 70s. Basically the only thing ive read that touches on the topic is. Exploring the blues is an effective tool for learning to sing and improvise on blues. In the last several decades, blues music has developed a less regional character and has been influenced by rhythm and blues. The author deftly traces the evolution of the blues from the work songs of slaves, to acoustic country ballads, to urban sounds, to. Bill took a break from his great good work on climate change and economic justice and took in our show in lancaster, ca. Please help improve this list by adding citations to reliable.
Lady sings the blues 1956 is an autobiography by jazz singer billie holiday, which was coauthored by william dufty. Lester profiles 10 blues, or bluesinspired, legends including bessie smith, muddy waters, b. Its that lowdown feeling that makes you ache from your soul to the soles of your shoes. Hear the hot songs of the year and all important new cd releases of 2020 in one place.
Oddly enough, while even the blues has changed its sound a little over time, it. Etta james, bobby blue bland and johnnie taylor all championed soul blues. They are compiled by the editor using the stated criteria, and revised considering the competent suggestions of visitors to this website only. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generations of musicians. A biographical dictionary of blues singers, by sheldon harris. With a bibliography and suggested reading and listening lists at the end, the blues singers, ten who rocked the world, is a terrific and informative introduction thats just perfect for young music lovers 9 and older. New yorkborn author and journalist vincent abbate has been a respected voice on the international blues and roots music scene for over 20 years. Blues whos who, a monumental compilation of blues data. Beyond the crossroads adam gussow university of north. Urban blues had a more aggressive sound than classic blues. More lists blues songs blues instrumentals blues vocalists blues albums live blues albums influential artists blues sidemen blues guitarists. Ten who rocked the world by julius lester and lisa cohen.
King and billie holiday as well as mahalia jackson who was widely considered a gospel singer but was influenced by and certainly influenced other blues singers and little richard, who grew out of a blues background. Blues musicians are musical artists who are primarily recognized as writing, performing, and recording blues music. Very entertaining and candid, hunter comes across as very likeable. Like conversation with the blues, blow my blues away 1971, by george mitchell, and blues 1975 by robert neff and anthony connor, consist largely of firstperson commentary by the blues singers themselves, and both books are quite sought after. Various arrangers the big book of blues in celebration of the human voice the essential musical instrument. Many thanks mike for allowing the bibliography to be published here. Turners voice was so big he could rock a gin joint without a mic. At its core, the blues has remained the same since its inception. Blues music is characterized by repeating chords and 1920s blues focused on a twelve bar structure.
This songbook provides a nice spoonful of blues by artists from the fifties chuck berry and elvis, the sixties cream, the seventies zz top, acdc, led zeppelin and deep purple, the eighties stevie ray vaughan and the nineties eric claptons acoustic cover of bo diddley. Please drop me a line, if you wish to use it or link to it or correct it. Breaking down the riaas list of gold and platinum artists, youll find a few surprises. The king changed music and culture in an unprecedented way in the 1950s. The top 50 greatest music books125 when i first wanted to read up on the bands i liked, i didnt really know where to start. Yet, as scholar and musician adam gussow argues, there is much more to the story of. Buy 100 books every blues fan should own best music books by edward komara, greg johnson isbn. Elvis scored a staggering 11 number one singles between 1956 and 1958.
The blues is a low down feeling, but it can be made better with a song. Songs would often chronicle the singers personal troubles and the daily racial problems associated with being african american in the prejudiced and segregated south. He wrote numerous books on blues music including bessie smith, blues fell this morning, the story of the blues, screening the blues. Books and audio books on diction, phonetics, translation and languages including english, american, spanish, italian, latin, german, french and czech for singers. Jul 30, 2010 25 new blues artists you need to hear. Blues musiciansunited statesbiographyjuvenile literature. List of books and articles about blues music online.
Popular musicians of that time included bo carter, blind lemon jefferson, tampa red, blind blake, sylvester weaver, robert johnson, blind willie mctell, blind boy fuller, frank stokes, robert wilkins and casey bill weldon. Learn more about the history of blues, soul and rock and roll with music books and publications from bluescentric. As stated above the list below comprises my personal recommendations of blues books in various categories. As more blacks were moving to urban areas like chicago, the urban blues genre was born. Country, rap, and even 90s pop artists appear in the riaas list of bestselling artists of all time. A musical and cultural history of the mississippi delta by robert palmer, escaping the delta.
Oddly enough, while even the blues has changed its sound a little over time, it has largely stayed intact to its roots. New releases now sign up to find top new songs of 2020 and videos from the best new 2020 albums. Some blues songs were also witty and comical, a satirical take on a melancholy. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Designed for people who love to sing, as well as for students and teachers in vocal jazz programs, it includes a stepbystep approach to learning blues lyrics, forms, harmony, scales and improvisation, with a brand new repertoire of songs. Robert crumb heroes of the blues portraits of legendary blues artists robert r crumb big joe turner legends of the blues by william stout so good, youd think illustrator william stout made a deal with the devil. The list starts with general books of the blues essential reading, followed by blues artists in alphabetical order, interjected with blues books on particular themes. Although rock biographies have had a necessarily short history the music itself is little more than sixty years old there is a plethora of books out there. Dozens of lists will appear from aficionados to major music personalities. List of the 100 greatest influential blues artists as compiled by. Childrens books with a musical theme stanford libraries. Here in the voice of a grandfather passing on a legacy to a.
The author of the journey of crazy horse presents a legendary battle through the eyes of the lakota the saga of. During prohibition, musicians played the urban blues in honky tonks, bars that illegally served alcohol. List of the top ten songs by blues artists as compiled by. A musical and cultural history of the mississippi delta paperback by.
The top 50 greatest music books125 every record tells a. From 1993 to 2001 he was the blues archivistmusic librarian at the university of mississippi. Robert palmer shelved 18 times as blues avg rating 4. He is the editor of the encyclopedia of the blues 2006 and author of the road to robert johnson 2007. The blues has been one of the most influential genres of music in the last hundred years or so. The book culminates with a bold reinterpretation of johnsons music and a. Vocal traditions on race records, broadcasting the blues. Note to lawyers and any other litigiousminded folk. In 1920, mamie smith was the first african american to record blues music. Renowned author julius lester introduces ten of the hottest black blues singers of our time including billie holiday, aretha franklin and b. Fiction and nonfiction books about blues music and blues musicians score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for. Nov 14, 2011 when playing an instrument, being able to see is definitely helpful, right. A year later my first book was published, the devils soninlaw.
Rolling stone s definitive list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed june 2015 learn how and when. Discover and listen to new music releases and 2020s best new album releases this week and every week here. King is one of my favourite singers because you feel like every line he sings, he really means it. This ambitious biographical encyclopedia delivers the goods, listing over 600 entries from every era and style of the blues.
Santellis wide definition of blues music includes styles from folk to rock. Classic blues meets uptempo 60s soul, soul blues is a crossover ground for artists from both traditions. With a disco groove and a touch of the blues via a harmonica player they. Fiction and nonfiction books about blues music and blues musicians score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Featuring over 200 vintage photographs and a new introduction by the author, the engaging, informative volume brings to life the african american singers and players who created this rich genre of music as well as the settings and experiences that inspired them. The blues had a baby and they named it rock n roll. Most blues feature simple, usually threechord, progressions and have simple structures that are open to endless improvisations, both lyrical and musical. Nearly every style of music we listen to today can be traced back to the blues in one way or another. An awesome bibliography and a fantastic achievement by the compiler, mike bullock. Best sellers prime video help new releases books gift ideas. There are many fine books on the blues, so i thought i would share with you my recommendations.