Blues Music in Nashville
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It’s no secret that Nashville is the home of country music. But what about the blues? Check out this blog for the best places to enjoy some blues music in Nashville!
The Birthplace of the Blues
Nashville is considered the birthplace of the blues, a genre of music that developed in the American South in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from African American folk music. The first known use of the word “blue” in reference to music occurred in 1861, in an article about a black pianist called “Professionals of Color” in The New York Mirror.
The blues subsequently evolved from secular folk music sung by blacks to a more formal style of music performed by professional musicians in clubs and theaters. The sound of the blues was originally created by African American musicians using a variety of instruments, including the banjo, harmonica, fiddle, piano,and guitar. The earliest recorded blues song is “Crazy Blues,” recorded by Mamie Smith in 1920.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the growing popularity of jazz and swing music led many blacks to abandon the blues in favor of these newer genres. However, some black musicians continued to play the blues, and their popularity increased after World War II when white audiences began to appreciate this form of music. In the 1950s and 1960s, blues artists such as Muddy Waters and B.B. King helped to popularize the genre with white audiences through their recordings and live performances.
The Spread of the Blues
The blues first became popular in the American South, and it quickly spread to other regions of the country. Nashville was one of the first cities outside of the South to embrace the blues. The city was home to many music venues that featured blues musicians from all over the country. Nashville also had a large population of African Americans, which made it easier for the blues to take root in the city.
The Evolution of the Blues
The blues is a genre of music that originated in the American South in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a form of music that combines elements of African American spirituals, work songs, and folk music. The blues has been a major influence on the development of other genres of music, including jazz, rock and roll, and country.
The first recorded use of the term “blue” in reference to music was in 1915, when musician hokum=string blues bandleader W.C. Handy published “The Memphis Blues”. Handy wrote that the song was inspired by a type of music he had heard in Memphis, Tennessee that he described as “blue and gloomy”. The lyrics of “The Memphis Blues” describe the hardships faced by African Americans in the early 20th century.
The popularity of “The Memphis Blues” led to a resurgence of interest in the blues among both black and white audiences. In the 1920s, a new style of blues known as “urban blues” began to develop in cities such as Chicago and New York City. This new style of blues was influenced by jazz and featured more complex musical arrangements than earlier forms of the blues.
Urban blues became increasingly popular in the 1930s and 1940s, with artists such as Big Bill Broonzy, Muddy Waters, and Howlin’ Wolf achieving mainstream success. In the 1950s, a new generation of British musicians began to be influenced by the blues, leading to the development of “British blues”. This new style of music would go on to have a major impact on the development of rock and roll in the 1960s.
The Influence of the Blues
The blues has been a major influence on the development of popular music in the United States, particularly rhythm and blues, rock and roll, jazz, and country music. The blues began as an African American musical tradition in the 19th century, based on African spirituals, work songs, field hollers, and folk music from the Deep South. The style is characterized by its use of blue notes and its focus on the experiences of African Americans.
Although the blues began in the American South, it quickly spread to other parts of the country, particularly Chicago and New York City. In the mid-20th century, the blues became a major influence on popular music in the United States. Artists such as Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, B.B. King, and John Lee Hooker helped to popularize the style and influenced generations of musicians.
The Future of the Blues
The future of the blues is in Nashville. The city has long been known as a hotbed for country music, but in recent years, it has become a breeding ground for up-and-coming blues musicians. Many of these artists are bringing a fresh sound to the genre, and they are quickly gaining popularity both in Nashville and beyond.
One of the most promising young blues bands in Nashville is The Bluetones. The group is made up of four friends who all share a passion for music. They started playing together in high school, and they have been honing their skills ever since.
The Bluetones have developed a sound that is unique to Nashville. While they are clearly influenced by classic blues artists like Muddy Waters and Junior Wells, they also incorporate elements of rock and roll, which gives their music a contemporary feel.
The Bluetones are currently working on their debut album, which is slated for release in the summer of 2017. If their first album is anything like their live shows, then the future of the blues is in good hands.
