View
291
Download
8
Category
Tags:
Preview:
Citation preview
African Roots: Earliest SlavesMany came from the Senegambia region
Present-day Senegal and the GambiaProgressed south over the years into present day Sierra
Leone, Liberia, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria and Cameroon.
Also included area around the mouth of the Congo River
African Roots: Earliest SlavesMany came from the Senegambia region
Present-day Senegal and the GambiaProgressed south over the years into present day Sierra
Leone, Liberia, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria and Cameroon.
Also included area around the mouth of the Congo River
Where the blues Came FromWhere the blues Came From
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Music of SenegambiaMusic of Senegambia
Used drumming, hand clapping and call and response singing styles
Call and Response – a leader, usually strongest singer, improvises and a chorus sings a repeated refrain in unison.
Music is usually a group activity. Drumming music was polyrhythmic, which
carried over into the blues style
Used drumming, hand clapping and call and response singing styles
Call and Response – a leader, usually strongest singer, improvises and a chorus sings a repeated refrain in unison.
Music is usually a group activity. Drumming music was polyrhythmic, which
carried over into the blues style
Coming to AmericaComing to AmericaAfrican influences carried over into the
fields of slaveryAfrican Slaves spent time singing songs
while working
African influences carried over into the fields of slavery
African Slaves spent time singing songs while working
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
InstrumentsInstrumentsAvailability of instruments
Post Civil War – became easier to order from catalogsGuitars, Harmonica & Piano became most popular
instruments
TrainingMost performers were trained by watching and mimicking
other performersBlues form was based loosely on the call and response style of
the field hollers Often used the instrument as the response in the song
Availability of instruments Post Civil War – became easier to order from catalogsGuitars, Harmonica & Piano became most popular
instruments
TrainingMost performers were trained by watching and mimicking
other performersBlues form was based loosely on the call and response style of
the field hollers Often used the instrument as the response in the song
RecordingRecordingArtists were given the opportunities to recordAlan Lomax -
went to MS in 1941 to record Delta Blues for the Library of Congress
Recording was often done in homes or warehousesArtists were not used to the short time constraints of
recording an album and had to adjust their playing styles
Usual performances at dances required longer songs
Artists were given the opportunities to recordAlan Lomax -
went to MS in 1941 to record Delta Blues for the Library of Congress
Recording was often done in homes or warehousesArtists were not used to the short time constraints of
recording an album and had to adjust their playing styles
Usual performances at dances required longer songs
Delta BluesDelta BluesAcoustic Guitar StylesSlide guitar - a metal tube put over the
finger and slid across the strings to give a different sound. Based on Hawaiian slide guitarOften used a bottle neck
Son House playing with finger slide
Lap style playingBottles, pen knives, or other metal objects used
Bukka White playing slide guitar on his lapBlack Ace playing with bottle
Acoustic Guitar StylesSlide guitar - a metal tube put over the
finger and slid across the strings to give a different sound. Based on Hawaiian slide guitarOften used a bottle neck
Son House playing with finger slide
Lap style playingBottles, pen knives, or other metal objects used
Bukka White playing slide guitar on his lapBlack Ace playing with bottle
Delta Blues ArtistDelta Blues Artist
Charley Patton Born in 1891 in MississippiConsidered the start of the Delta Blues style
Gravelly and strong voice that could carry for large groups to hear
Very accomplished guitar playingUsed slide guitarHeavy rhythmic accompaniment on guitar
Charley Patton “Shake it and Break it”
Charley Patton Born in 1891 in MississippiConsidered the start of the Delta Blues style
Gravelly and strong voice that could carry for large groups to hear
Very accomplished guitar playingUsed slide guitarHeavy rhythmic accompaniment on guitar
Charley Patton “Shake it and Break it”
Chicago Blues ArtistChicago Blues ArtistMuddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield)
Born April 4, 1915 - in Rolling Fork, MSDied April 30, 1983 - in Chicago, ILHis idol was Son House, a Delta Bluesman
Muddy played the electric guitar and had a very strong voice.
1950 hit “Rollin’ Stone” was the inspiration for a young British band’s name -The Rolling Stones
Had large part in the 1960’s revival of the blues
Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield)Born April 4, 1915 - in Rolling Fork, MSDied April 30, 1983 - in Chicago, ILHis idol was Son House, a Delta Bluesman
Muddy played the electric guitar and had a very strong voice.
1950 hit “Rollin’ Stone” was the inspiration for a young British band’s name -The Rolling Stones
Had large part in the 1960’s revival of the blues
Women Blues ArtistsWomen Blues Artists
Gertrude “Ma” Rainey - “Mother of the Blues”Born Gertrude M. Pridgett on April 26, 1886 in GeorgiaDied December 22, 1939
Began singing professionally as a teenPerformed in minstrel and medicine shows1904 - married William “Pa” Rainey Recorded over 100 songs in six years with Paramount
Records1983 - Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame1990 - Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame“See See Rider Blues” - “Ma” Rainey
Cover of “See See Rider” by Elvis Presley
Gertrude “Ma” Rainey - “Mother of the Blues”Born Gertrude M. Pridgett on April 26, 1886 in GeorgiaDied December 22, 1939
Began singing professionally as a teenPerformed in minstrel and medicine shows1904 - married William “Pa” Rainey Recorded over 100 songs in six years with Paramount
Records1983 - Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame1990 - Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame“See See Rider Blues” - “Ma” Rainey
Cover of “See See Rider” by Elvis Presley
Blues WomenBlues WomenBessie Smith - “The Empress of the Blues”
Born Elizabeth Smith on April 15, 1894 in Chattanooga, TNDied September 26, 1937 in Clarksdale, MS
1912 - sang in the same show as “Ma” RaineyRainey provided Smith with some vocal lessons
1929 - starred in “St. Louis Blues” videoThe only footage of her performances
Blues were declining in popularity, and Smith lost her recording contract with Columbia in 1931
Smith died in a tragic car accident in September 1937 - at the age of 43.
Bessie Smith - “The Empress of the Blues”Born Elizabeth Smith on April 15, 1894 in Chattanooga, TNDied September 26, 1937 in Clarksdale, MS
1912 - sang in the same show as “Ma” RaineyRainey provided Smith with some vocal lessons
1929 - starred in “St. Louis Blues” videoThe only footage of her performances
Blues were declining in popularity, and Smith lost her recording contract with Columbia in 1931
Smith died in a tragic car accident in September 1937 - at the age of 43.
Robert JohnsonRobert Johnson
Born Robert Leroy Johnson on May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, MS
Died August 16, 1938 in Greenwood, MSJohnson’s guitar skills are regarded as him having
made a deal with the devil at the crossroads. Some claim that he was an awful guitarist and almost
overnight became a spectacular player
Many different accounts of Robert Johnson that make his story very intriguing.
Born Robert Leroy Johnson on May 8, 1911 in Hazlehurst, MS
Died August 16, 1938 in Greenwood, MSJohnson’s guitar skills are regarded as him having
made a deal with the devil at the crossroads. Some claim that he was an awful guitarist and almost
overnight became a spectacular player
Many different accounts of Robert Johnson that make his story very intriguing.
Robert JohnsonRobert Johnson
“Love in Vain” - Shows his ability to sing a beautiful melody
Moved around a great deal“I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom” - a slang term
for leaving
His death adds to his mysteriousnessJohnson was rumored to have been
murdered by the husband of a woman he was hitting on at a show
“Love in Vain” - Shows his ability to sing a beautiful melody
Moved around a great deal“I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom” - a slang term
for leaving
His death adds to his mysteriousnessJohnson was rumored to have been
murdered by the husband of a woman he was hitting on at a show
Cross Road BluesCross Road Blues
“Cross Road Blues” - Robert JohnsonCovered by Cream - “Crossroads”
Eric Clapton - “Crossroads”
“Cross Road Blues” - Robert JohnsonCovered by Cream - “Crossroads”
Eric Clapton - “Crossroads”
Six Degrees of Robert Johnson
Six Degrees of Robert Johnson
How many artists were influenced by the blues? The Game:
Choose an artistFind their musical influences and try to connect
their influences with a blues artist.Example:
QueenThe BeatlesChuck Berry Muddy WatersRobert Johnson
How many artists were influenced by the blues? The Game:
Choose an artistFind their musical influences and try to connect
their influences with a blues artist.Example:
QueenThe BeatlesChuck Berry Muddy WatersRobert Johnson
ExtensionExtension
Choose a cover of a blues songhttp://www.secondhandsongs.comWrite a 1-2 page paper comparing
and contrasting the two versions.
Create a cover of a blues song and perform on your instrument.
Choose a cover of a blues songhttp://www.secondhandsongs.comWrite a 1-2 page paper comparing
and contrasting the two versions.
Create a cover of a blues song and perform on your instrument.
Recommended