When Did Blues Music End?

In search of an answer to the question “when did blues music end?”, we consulted with music experts and historians to get a sense of when the genre began to decline in popularity. Here’s what we found.

The End of an Era

The Blues, a genre of music that started in the late 19th century, officially came to an end in the year 2000. This was the year that the last remaining original blues artist, Bobby “Blue” Bland, passed away.

The last of the greats

It is difficult to say exactly when the era of great blues music came to an end. Some would argue that it ended with the death of Robert Johnson in 1938. Others would say it ended with the last of the great Delta bluesmen, such as Muddy Waters, who died in 1983.

Still others would argue that the era of great blues music ended much later, with the deaths of B.B. King in 2015 and Willie Dixon in 1992. Dixon was a seminal figure in the Chicago blues scene and wrote some of the most popular and influential blues songs, such as “Hoochie Coochie Man” and “I Can’t Quit You Baby.”

The truth is, there is no definitive answer to this question. The era of great blues music probably ended at different times for different people. For some, it ended with the death of Robert Johnson; for others, it continued on until the last of the greatDelta bluesmen passed away.

The changing sound of the blues

By the early 1970s, the sound of the blues was changing. Electric blues bands were getting louder and incorporated more elements of rock and roll. Over time, these bands began to experiment with different sounds, incorporating jazz, soul, and other styles. This led to the development of new subgenres, such as funk and disco blues. While some artists continued to play traditional acoustic blues, others embraced the new sound.

This change in sound marked the end of an era for the blues. The genre continued to evolve, but it would never again be as influential as it was in the first half of the twentieth century.

A New Beginning

The answer is not as simple as it may appear. On the one hand, there are those who argue that the blues ended around the time that Robert Johnson and other early Delta blues musicians died. On the other hand, others believe that the blues continued and even evolved into different genres, such as rock and roll and soul.

The new generation of blues musicians

The new generation of blues musicians has brought the genre back to its roots. These artists are returning to the delta and rural south, where the blues was born. They are using traditional instruments and techniques to create a sound that is both modern and timeless.

The new generation of blues musicians is keeping the genre alive and accessible for new audiences. They are bringing the sound of the delta to a new generation of listeners, and keeping the blues alive for generations to come.

The new sound of the blues

The blues has been around for a long time, but its sound has changed a lot over the years. In the early days of the genre, blues was more upbeat and positive, with a focus on dancing and having a good time. As the years went on and the world changed, so did the blues, evolving into a slower, more soulful sound that reflected the struggles of African Americans in the early 20th century.

In the 1940s and 50s, artists like Muddy Waters and BB King took the blues in a new direction, infusing it with a louder, more electric sound. This new style of blues became known as “Chicago blues” and it quickly spread across the country. Over the next few decades, the blues continued to evolve, taking on different forms in different parts of the US. Today, there are many different types of blues music, each with its own unique sound and history.