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Living Blues magazine
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Mississippi Delta (in green) |
Books About the Delta Blues
Books about Individual Delta Blues Musicians
African-Americans from all over the South migrated Northward during "The Great Migration" during the first half of the Twentieth Century. The Illinois Central Railroad carried people from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis and then on to Chicago, where musicians played for newly employed factory workers in South Side clubs.
In Chicago, the blues grew from a solo medium to a group endeavor, with piano and "harp" (harmonica), and a more powerful electrified guitar often taking the place of the acoustic guitar. There was often a saxophone in the mix. Chicago blues greatly influenced early Rock n' Roll and Rhythm and Blues.
Books about the Chicago Blues:
CDs by Muddy Waters:
Big Bill Broonzy (1893-1958) grew up in Arkansas, across the river from the Mississippi side of the Delta. After moving to Chicago in the 1920s, he began recording with his acoustic guitar and changed to electric in the 1940s, but played acoustic for folk music revival tours of the 1950s. He inspired other blues musicians such as Muddy Waters, as well as early rock and roll guitarists.
Willie Dixon (1915 - 1992) was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi and moved to Chicago in 1936. After World 2 he began recording for Chess Records and later became a producer for them.
Buddy Guy (b. 1936) He was born in Louisiana and moved to Chicago in the 1950s. He learned the blues on a diddley bow and later played guitar. He was a session guitarist for Chess Records and broke out as a soloist in the 1980s. Today he is one of the best-known blues musician, playing rock-tinged blues. He has collaborated with Eric Clapton.
Albert King (1923 - 1992) was born in Indianola, Mississippi and spent part of his childhood in
Arkansas. He moved to Chicago in the 1950s, but then left for St. Louis and finally settled in Memphis. He influenced rock and blues guitarists alike.
In Session (With Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1983)
Compact Disc 12022
Sonny Boy Williamson (The Second) (ca. 1912 - 1965) was born Alex Miller but known as Sonny Boy Williamson despite another well-known harmonica player having the name first. He was born in Mississippi and traveled the Delta absorbing the blues sound. He recorded for Chess Records' Checker Records label in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He famously recorded an album with the British Invasion rock band, The Yardbirds, which featured Eric Clapton.
The Real Folk Blues
Compact Disc 12168
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A Diddley-Bow |
Bo Diddley (1928 - 2008) His stage name is a play on the diddley-bow, a folk instrument associated with the blues. He is credited with transitioning blues into the rock idiom. He is one of the famous blues musicians to record with Chess Records.
His Best
Compact Disc 15114