Popular CultureBlues Music

Presentation by Brock Richard

Photo Courtesy of: Anna Brady, St James, Missouri

Shorkey, Clay. Retrived from: http://texasmusicmuseum.org/bios.htmThis photo is of a man named Ervin Charles. Charles was a blues musician who influenced many famous artists in the city of Beaumont. He did not have a long professional career, but those he influenced did. Working as a truck driver, he would play his blues music and teach others how to play in his spare time.

Shorkey, Clay. Retrived from: http://texasmusicmuseum.org/bios.htm

This photo is of a woman by the name of Ruthie foster. She was a blue musician who played in Gause, Texas. Her talent moved her to play with a Navy band and eventually in New York. Her time spent in New York payed off with a record deal with Atlanta Records.

Louis Armstrong Collection. (1987) Catalog number: 1987.14.3821-1987.14.4073. Retrieved from: http://louisarmstrong.pastperfect-online.com/36783cgi/mweb.exe?request=image&hex=19871438211987144073-28.JPG

This image shows Louis Armstrong playing the trumpet in the background as two people dance to his music. Louis Armstrong was a very famous trumpet player who played blues and jazz music. Luis played many concerts and recorded many number one records. He was idolized by many musicians of his time and his music can still be heard in movies and television shows today.

1960’sRock River Foundation. Retrived from: http://deltabluesmuseum.org/follow_sonhouse/index.html

This photo is of the album covers of a man named Son House. He was a blues musician who taught people like Robert Johnson how to play the slide guitar. Son House wrote music and played it himself. It is said that he helped blues come back to life in the 1960’s after blues had sort of died out.

This photo was taken in the 1930’s in a photo booth. This young man goes by the name of Robert Johnson. As mentioned in the previous artifact, Robert Johnson learned how to play the slide guitar by Son House. Johnson made some recordings in San Antonio, Texas and when his albums were released, people saw what a great musician he was. Bands of today like Red Hot Chili Peppers sing some of Johnson’s songs which speak volumes on his poetic talent and ability to play the guitar. Danforth, C., Risseto, A. (2003) Retrieved from: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~music/rjhome.html

Photo by Alain Le Mercier.

Muddy Waters learned to play the slide guitar and other guitar tricks by people like Ervin Charles. Waters introduced a new style of playing that was intense to the listener. He played music that was recognizable, but altered in a slight way to make it his own. The Rolling Stones actually got the name of their band from one of Muddy’s songs. Welding, P. “Gone to Mainstreet” Bluesland, E.P. Dutton, 1992. Retrieved from: http://www.muddywaters.com/bio.html