Was Country Blues Considered the Devil’s Music?

A look at how country blues was once considered the devil’s music and how that perception has changed over time.

The Origins of Country Blues

Country blues is a type of blues music that originated in the rural southeastern United States in the 1920s. It is also known as rural blues or downhome blues. It is the earliest form of the blues and is considered the foundation of all other blues styles.

The Mississippi Delta

The Mississippi Delta is often cited as the birthplace of the blues. This area, which is located between Memphis, Tennessee, and Vicksburg, Mississippi, was home to a large population of African Americans who worked in the region’s agriculture industry. The music that emerged from this community was a blend of African and European influences and was initially known as “field hollers” or “work songs.” These early blues songs often consisted of simple lyrics that described the hardships of everyday life.

The Piedmont

The Piedmont style of country blues is characterized by its use of a guitar played in a syncopated, finger-picked style. This style is often associated with the music of the southeastern United States, particularly the states of North Carolina and Virginia. The name “Piedmont” comes from the French word for “foot of the mountain,” which is fitting given the region’s hilly terrain.

Piedmont blues artists often used a variety of different techniques to create their unique sound. One common technique was to play the guitar in what is known as an “open tuning.” This simply means that the guitar is tuned to a particular chord, which makes it easier to play certain melodies. Piedmont blues artists would also often use a technique called “sliding” to add expression to their playing. This involves sliding a metal object, such as a bottleneck or steel bar, along the strings of the guitar while simultaneously pressing down on the strings with the fretting hand.

The Piedmont style is perhaps best exemplified by the work of Blind Blake, one of the most accomplished and influential country blues guitarists of all time. Other notable Piedmont blues artists include Reverend Gary Davis, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Booker T. Washington (“Bukka”) White.

The Spread of Country Blues

Country blues was created by Southern black musicians in the early 1900s and was later popularized by white musicians. It was also known as the “Devil’s Music” because of its association with alcohol, gambling, and sex. Country blues was a combination of African and European musical traditions.

The influence of recorded music

The first recordings of country blues were made in the 1920s, and they had a profound impact on the development of popular music. These recordings made it possible for people to hear this new style of music for the first time, and they quickly became extremely popular. The popularity of country blues coincided with a growing interest in African-American culture, and this helped to make it acceptable to a wider audience.

The spread of country blues was also aided by the decline of vaudeville and the rise of radio. Vaudeville was a type of live entertainment that was very popular in the early 20th century. It featured a variety of acts, including musicians, comedians, and acrobats. However, vaudeville began to decline in popularity in the 1920s, due in part to competition from radio. This created an opportunity for country blues musicians to reach a larger audience.

Radio was also responsible for popularizing another form of country blues known as hillbilly music. Hillbilly music was originally created by white musicians who were influenced by the sound of country blues. This new style of music became very popular in the 1930s, and it helped to further spread country blues to new audiences.

The influence of migration

The migration of people from the southeastern United States to other parts of the country, particularly the Midwest and West, in the early twentieth century played a significant role in the spread of country blues. More specifically, the Great Migration of African Americans from rural areas to urban centers in search of jobs and better living conditions increased the audience for this type of music. The popularity of country blues was further boosted by the rise of radio and recording technologies, which made it possible for more people to listen to and purchase this type of music.

The Reception of Country Blues

Country blues was not always well-received. In fact, it was often considered the devil’s music. This was because the lyrics often talked about taboo subjects such as sex, violence, and alcohol. Additionally, the music was often seen as being too simple and repetitious. However, there were also people who appreciated the music for its raw emotion and honesty.

The white perspective

In the early twentieth century, white Americans were largely unfamiliar with the music of black Americans. This began to change in the 1920s, when recordings of so-called “race music” (a term used at the time to describe music by black artists) began to become more widely available. Many white Americans found these recordings intriguing and exotic, and they soon became interested in learning more about this new form of music.

However, there was also a significant contingent of white Americans who disapproved of country blues, viewing it as the “devil’s music.” This group believed that the lewd and suggestive lyrics of many country blues songs were a corrupting influence, particularly on young people. They also felt that the blues was a negative and depressing form of music that glorified violence and alcoholism.

The black perspective

The notion that the blues was the “devil’s music” originated with white people, who were often afraid of black music and musicians. To them, the blues sounded wild, chaotic, and dangerous. This perception was reinforced by the fact that many blues songs dealt with taboo subjects like sex and alcohol.

However, from the black perspective, the blues was simply a form of expression, a way to channel their emotions and experiences. It wasn’t considered evil or dangerous, just different from white people’s music. In fact, many black churches incorporated the blues into their services, giving it a more sacred feeling.

The Legacy of Country Blues

Country blues is a genre of music that developed in the southern United States in the early 1900s. It is a predecessor to many other genres of music, including rock and roll, jazz, and rhythm and blues. Country blues was often considered the “devil’s music” because of its association with alcohol, gambling, and promiscuity. Despite its reputation, country blues has had a lasting impact on American music.

The influence of country blues on other genres

The impact of country blues on other genres was indisputable. The style and sound of country blues helped to shape the sound of other genres including rock and roll, Rhythm and Blues (R&B), and jazz. Country blues also had an impact on the development of the electric guitar. The use of bottleneck guitar, or slide guitar, was popularized by country blues musicians such as Robert Johnson and Charley Patton. This style of guitar playing would go on to be used by rock and rollers such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix.

The influence of country blues on popular culture

For many years, the country blues was considered the “devil’s music” because of its raw and sensual sound. This reputation kept the genre from being widely accepted by the mainstream, but that all changed in the 1960s when artists like Bob Dylan and The Beatles began incorporating elements of country blues into their music. This new style, which came to be known as “roots rock,” was a revelation to many young listeners who had never heard anything like it before.

The popularity of roots rock gave rise to a whole new generation of country blues artists who found an eager audience for their music. In the decades that followed, the genre became increasingly popular and today it is enjoyed by fans all over the world. Thanks to its powerful ability to evoke emotions, country blues continues to be one of the most influential genres in popular music.