-
Emancipation Proclamation
The slaves were freed with this proclamation -
Period: to
Blues History Timeline
A brief history of the Blues music from 1863 to 2003 -
The Beginning
The blues was born in the North Mississippi Delta and influenced by African chants, ballads, field hollers, revivalist music and rhythmic dance tunes called "jump-ups". The first places this music could be found publicly were the juke joints, which were places the blacks could go to listen to the music, dance, and gamble. -
Cotton Club
Beale Street, Memphis is where the most popular Juke Joints and night clubs sprang up. This is where the African Americans could go to listen to music, gamble and dance. The most famous club was the Cotton Club and many bluesmen got their start here. -
First Publication
W. C. Handy publicized "Memphis Blues" -
The Great Migration
The Great Migration began in 1916 and continued until 1970. More than 6 million African Americans from the rural south moved to the cities of the North, Midwest, and West, due to the harsh segregationist laws and poor economic opportunities in the South. -
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong, also known as "Satchmo" or "Pops", had a musical and film career that spanned 5 decades from the 1920s to the 1960s. He was the first black performer to truly be highly regarded by all people. He was a profound trumpet player. He began to scat sing, which is improvised vocal jazz using nonsensical words. He became a huge part of the "crooning" sound of artists like Bing Crosby. He is known for his recording of "Hello, Dolly". -
First Blues Vocal Recorded
Mamie Smith recorded the first vocal Blues song "Crazy Blues -
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington began playing at the Cotton Club on Beale Street, Memphis. During 1924, he made 8 records. He and his band are well known for "Sophisticated Lady", "Creole Love Song", "Black and Tan Fantasy", "Mood Indigo" and many others. -
Big Bands
The Big Band era of the 1930's and 1040's produced many famous bands and a great many blues songs became hits. Glenn Miller had "In the Mood" while Count Basie played "One O'Clock Jump" -
B. B. King
B.B.King, considered to be the "King of the Blues", produced the Endless Boogie album which showcased his virtuoso guitar techniques. -
Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement begins. Besides bringing about many political and social changes, it began a revival of the African American music and American roots music. -
Blues Revival
The blues had a revival in the 1960's thanks to Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and the Chicago-based Paul Butterfield Blues Band. -
"Sounder"
The movie "Sounder" presented music by Texas bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins and acoustic bluesman Taj Mahal. -
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
The Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and Yazoo Records rediscovered and remastered blues rarities. -
The Blues documentary
PBS produced a documentary on the Blues. Martin Scorsese promted the blues to a larger audience.
