Blues

From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change

Early blues musician Bessie Smith

The blues is a form of music that started in the United States in the first half of the 20th century. It was started by former African slaves from spirituals, praise songs, and chants.

The simplest blues scales are based on the minor pentatonic scale, with extra notes (called "blue notes") added. Blue notes do not normally fit a scale, but they give the music a special feeling.

The blues have made a difference in newer American and Western popular music, such as jazz, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, hip-hop, and country music, as well as common pop songs.

[change] Some blues musicians

• Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)
• Blind Blake (c. 1893-c. 1933)
• Blues Brothers
• Big Bill Broonzy (1893/1898-1958)
• Ray Charles (1930-2004)
• Robert Cray (born 1953)
• Bo Diddley (born 1928)
• Buddy Guy (born 1936)
• John Lee Hooker (1917-2001)
• Etta James (born 1938)
• Robert Johnson (1909/1912-1938)
• B. B. King (born 1925)
• Leadbelly (1885-1949)
• Taj Mahal (musician) (born 1942)
• Memphis Slim (1915-1988)
• Jelly Roll Morton (1890-1941)
• Ma Rainey (1886-1939)
• Bessie Smith (1894-1937)
• Mamie Smith (1883-1946)
• Big Joe Turner (1911-1985)
• Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954-1990)
• T-bone Walker (1910-1975)
• Muddy Waters (1915-1983)
• John Bonham (1948-1980)
• Andrew Lennon (1897-1945)

[change] Other websites

• Blues Foundation
• Blues Classroom from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

This short article can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.