Where Was Blues Music Started?

We explore the origins of blues music and how it has evolved over the years.

The Mississippi Delta

The Mississippi Delta is a region of the U.S. state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, stretching from Memphis, Tennessee, in the north to Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the south. The region is considered the birthplace of blues music and is also home to a significant number of jazz artists. Other genres of music such as rockabilly and country also have roots in the Delta.

New Orleans

The blues is a genre of music that originated in African-American communities in the United States around the end of the 19th century. The primary form of the blues is the blues song, which has several characteristic features: call-and-response patterns, blue notes, and specific chord progressions, among other traits. The blues has influenced other genres of music, including jazz and rock and roll.

Chicago

Though the blues began in the American South, it was in Chicago that the genre truly flourished. In the early 1900s, many southern blacks migrated to northern cities in search of jobs and a better life. They brought with them their music, which soon found a home in the city’s many nightclubs and bars.

In Chicago, the blues evolved from its raw, country origins into a more polished and urban sound. Electric guitars and drums were added to the traditional acoustic lineup of guitars, harmonicas, and pianos. This new sound was perfect for dancing, and soon the blues became huge in Chicago.

Today, the city is still home to a vibrant blues scene, and it hosts some of the biggest blues festivals in the world. If you want to experience the blues at its best, there’s no better place to go than Chicago.

The Piedmont

The Piedmont is a region located in the East Coast of the United States. This region includes the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The term “Piedmont” comes from the French word for “foot of the mountains”, as this area is located at the base of the Appalachian Mountains. The Piedmont is known for its rolling hills and sleepy small towns.

This region was home to many famous blues musicians, including Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, and Bessie Smith. These musicians helped to create the Piedmont blues sound, which is characterized by its use of slide guitar and ragtime piano. The Piedmont blues sound is often considered to be more refined and sophisticated than other blues styles, such as the delta blues.