Famous Quotes about Blues Music
Contents
We all have our favorite quotes about the blues. Here are some of the most famous ones, from some of the most famous blues musicians.
The history of blues music
blues music has been around for centuries and has influenced many other genres of music. Some of the most famous blues musicians include B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker.
The origins of the blues
The blues is a genre of music that originated in the African-American communities of the United States around the end of the 19th century. The style developed from and was influenced by African-American work songs, spirituals, and ballads. The first appearance of the blues is often dated to after the Emancipation Proclamation, when former slaves were able to travel and perform more freely.
The earliest known recordings of blues music were made in the 1920s by record companies such as Columbia and Victor. These companies were interested in exploiting the new market for race records, which were recordings by African-American artists marketed to black audiences. Blues became very popular in the 1930s and 1940s, with artists such as Lead Belly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker, and Ma Rainey achieving mainstream success. In the 1950s and 1960s, electric blues bands such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Willie Dixon became popular.
The development of the blues
The blues is a style 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 roots in African musical traditions, African-American work songs, spirituals, and the folk music of white Americans of European heritage. The blues has been a major influence on later American and Western popular music, shaping the genres of jazz, country, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues.
The term “blues” refers to the feeling of sadness or despair that can be conveyed by the music. The earliest known use of the term “blue devils” to describe this feeling is from 1831. The first publication of sheet music using the term “blues” was in 1908. In 1912 W. C. Handy published “The Memphis Blues”, one of the first compositions in this style.
Musically, the blues is characterized by blue notes – notes played at a slightly lower pitch than those of a major scale to produce a sadness or melancholy effect. The form is usually 12 bars long, with each bar consisting of 4 beats (often subdivided into 8). The melody is often based on a 3-note figure known as a “blue note”, which makes up the basis for much of jazz and rock & roll melodywriting. Common chord progressions include the I-IV-V progression (the so-called “three chords of the blues”), as well as variations such as I-VII-V or I-VI-IV-V.
The influence of blues music
Blues is a style of music that was created by African Americans in the early 20th century. The lyrics of blues songs often deal with personal emotions, such as love, sadness, and happiness. The music is often sad and melancholy, but can also be joyful and upbeat. The blues has influenced many other genres of music, including rock and roll, jazz, and country.
The influence of the blues on other genres of music
The blues has been a major influence on other genres of music since its inception. Jazz, rock and roll, R&B, and country are just a few of the genres that have been impacted by the blues. The following quotes from some of music’s most famous performers demonstrate the blues’ far-reaching influence.
“The blues is easy to play, but hard to feel.” – Jimi Hendrix
“Rock and roll is just the blues inflated.” – Derek Trucks
“I think that the basis of all great music, whether it’s jazz or rock or whatever, is really the blues.” – Jack White
“The blues isn’t dead – it just smells funny.” – Frank Zappa
The influence of the blues on popular culture
The blues has had a profound impact on popular culture, finding its way into virtually every genre of music. The following quotes are just a small sampling of the many ways in which the blues has been described by some of the most influential people in music.
“The blues is easy to play, but hard to feel.” – Jimi Hendrix
“The blues is loss; the blues is what’s missing; the blues is longing for something that’s gone.” – T Bone Burnett
“The blues is the roots and the other stuff is the fruits.” – Willie Dixon
“The blues are the true facts of life expressed in words and song, inspiration, feeling, and understanding.” – Willie Dixon
“Blues is easy to play, but hard to feel.” – Jimi Hendrix
The popularity of blues music
Blues music has been around for a long time and it is still popular today. There are many famous quotes about blues music that have been said by famous people. In this article, we will take a look at some of these quotes and see what they mean.
The popularity of the blues in the United States
During the early twentieth century, the blues became increasingly popular in the United States, particularly among African Americans. Because of its simple structure and easy-to-sing melodies, the blues quickly caught on in rural communities and eventually made its way to cities like Chicago and New York. By the 1920s, the blues was being performed by professional musicians in nightclubs and on record. Its popularity continued to grow in the 1930s and 1940s, when it became one of the most influential genres in American music.
The popularity of the blues in Europe
Blues music has long been popular in Europe, with artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and John Lee Hooker finding great success in the continent. In recent years, the popularity of the blues has grown even more, with young audiences flocking to see live shows and buy records.
Here are some quotes from famous Europeans about the appeal of the blues:
“The blues is the roots and the other music is the fruits.” – Bo Diddley
“The interesting thing about the blues is that it’s always been popular with white musicians.” – Mick Jagger
“The reason I like the blues is that it recognizes pain and thus feels good to listen to.” – Toni Morrison
The future of blues music
The future of the blues in the United States
In the United States, the future of the blues is in the hands of the young people. They are the ones who will keep the music alive and pass it on to future generations. There are many young blues artists who are already making a name for themselves and who will continue to carry the blues tradition into the future.
The future of the blues in Europe
In an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, legendary bluesman Buddy Guy was asked about the future of the blues in Europe. His response was pessimistic, saying that “the blues is dying out” and that “young people don’t seem to be interested in it anymore.”
Despite Guy’s concern, there are signs that the blues is far from dead in Europe. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the genre, with more and more festivals and clubs popping up across the continent.
One of the most promising sign is the success of young European blues musicians like 24-year-old British guitarist JoeBonamassa. In 2006, he became the first unsigned artist to reach number one on Billboard’s Blues chart with his album A New Day Yesterday.
With its rich history and soulful sound, the blues still has a lot to offer music lovers of all ages. And with new talents like JoeBonamassa leading the way, it seems that the future of the blues in Europe is bright.
