Killer Diller Blues Music from the 1920s

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Looking for some great music from the 1920s? Check out our roundup of the best Killer Diller Blues tunes!

What is the blues?

The blues is a genre of music that originated in the African-American communities of the Southern United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It developed from and is deeply rooted in the music of the African American oral tradition. The blues is a major foundation stone of modern popular music.

The term “the blues” refers to the feeling of sadness or melancholy that can be expressed in song. The earliest reference to “the blues” was in 1833, when advertised as “the crying baby blues” by artist Ma Rainey. By the end of the 1920s, “the blues” had become a code word for an emerging African-American popular music that was distinctly different from the earlier sounds of brass bands and ragtime.

Where did the blues come from?

The blues is a style of music that originated in the American South in the late 19th and early 20th century. The genre developed out of African American musical traditions, including spirituals, work songs, field hollers, and ragtime.

The first appearance of the blues is often dated to 1903, when W.C. Handy published “The Memphis Blues”. Handy was a musician, bandleader, and composer who popularized the blues by incorporating elements of folk and pop music into his recordings. The popularity of his music helped to spread the blues from its regional beginnings to a national audience.

In the 1920s, the blues became even more popular with the rise of so-called “blues shouters” like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey. These singers were known for their powerful vocal performances, which often included sexually suggestive lyrics. The blues shouters were responsible for making the blues a commercially viable form of music, and their records were some of the best-selling recordings of the 1920s.

By the 1930s, the blues had evolved into a more sophisticated style known as “urban blues”. This new style was influenced by jazz and featured more complex chord progressions and harmonization. Artists like T-Bone Walker and Louis Jordan helped to popularize urban blues in the 1930s and 1940s.

Today, the blues is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world. It remains one of America’s most important musical genres, and its influence can be heard in everything from country to rock ‘n’ roll.

What are the characteristics of the blues?

The blues is a type of music that originated in the United States. It is typically characterized by a 12-bar chord progression, a simple melody, and often times, a call and response format. The lyrics of blues songs often deal with topics such as heartache, love, and loss. The blues first gained popularity in the early 1900s, and has since been influential in the development of other genres of music such as jazz and rock and roll.

Who were some of the most famous blues musicians of the 1920s?

The 1920s was the golden age of the blues, with legendary musicians such as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Leadbelly entertaining audiences across America. These artists helped to popularize the blues, paving the way for future generations of musicians.

What are some of the most famous blues songs from the 1920s?

The 1920s marked the beginning of the modern blues era, with classic tracks like “Crazy Blues” by Mamie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds and “St. Louis Blues” by Bessie Smith helping to popularize the genre. Other noteworthy songs from the decade include “AIN’T MISBEHAVIN'” by Fats Waller and “BLUES AFTER HOURS” by Pee Wee Crayton.

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