ML - Blues Timeline

By Maddison Logan

  • Start of Blues Music

    Blues music was formed post-Civil War in the Deep South. It derives from African American work songs, minstrel show music, ragtime, and church songs.
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    Early Blues

    Early blues music was still deeply rooted in the Deep South during this period.

  • Robert Johnson is born

    Robert Johnson, one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, is born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. His recordings from the late 1930s have a profound impact on future generations of blues and rock musicians.

  • W.C. Handy

    In 1912, an African American bandleader by the name of W.C. Handy released the song "Memphis Blues". This song was very well received and Tin Pan Alley songs derived and gained inspiration from this song.
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    Rural Blues Gains Popularity

    From the 1920s to the 1930s, Rural Blues gained popularity. With roots from Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas, and Mississippi, this subgenre of Blues is commonly seen as more upbeat and melodic than other Blues subgenres.
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    Great Migration

    The Great Migration brings millions of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North, spreading blues music to cities like Chicago, Detroit, and New York.

  • Mamie Smith - "Crazy Blues"

    Mamie Smith records "Crazy Blues," widely considered the first blues record, leading to the popularization of blues music among a wider audience.
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    Emergence of Muddy Waters

    Alan Lomax records blues musicians such as Muddy Waters, Son House, and Lead Belly during his field recording trips in the Southern United States, preserving the early roots of the blues.

  • Muddy Waters - "Rollin' Stone"

    Chess Records released "Rollin' Stone" by Muddy Waters, which becomes a major hit and inspires the name of the iconic rock band The Rolling Stones.

  • B.B. King

    B.B. King records "Three O'Clock Blues," launching his career as one of the most renowned blues guitarists and performers.

  • "Juke" - Little Walters

    Little Walter's instrumental track "Juke" becomes the first blues song to top the Billboard R&B chart, showcasing the popularity of blues harmonica.

  • Ann Arbors Music Festival

    The first Ann Arbor Blues Festival takes place in Michigan, featuring performances by B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, and other blues legends, helping to revive interest in the blues among younger audiences.

  • "The Blues Brothers"

    The film "The Blues Brothers," starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, introduces blues music to a new generation and contributes to a resurgence of interest in the genre.

  • SRV - The King

    Stevie Ray Vaughan releases his debut album, "Texas Flood," which revitalizes interest in blues guitar playing and influences a new generation of guitarists.

  • Mississippi Blues Trail

    The Mississippi Blues Trail is established, featuring markers and sites across Mississippi that commemorate the state's rich blues heritage, preserving its legacy for future generations.