Blues in the Community“Pre-War Blues”

1900-1945

Dr. Will WilliamsonAlona Williamson

a.k.a “Mosby Territory”Sponsored by the DC Blues Society

www.dcblues.org

INTRO

“St. James Infirmary”

Overview

• Who we are:– “Mosby Territory”– Blues, Rock, Folk and Country

singer/songwriter duo– www.MosbyTerritory.com

• What we will cover:– History– People– Instruments– Songs

Discussing blues history with blues giant Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna)

Why “Pre-War” (before WW2) Blues?

• Two important changes occurred in the 1940’s• Large scale migration of rural black population to

cities to work in wartime factories during World War II– Jazz-influenced blues became the “in” thing and “country

blues” was viewed as backwards– More Musicians on your block

• Invention of the electric guitar– Much more aggressive sounds – Bass and guitar divided what was done on one guitar in

country blues and got more specialized

This led to more band-based blues than individuals / duos

ORIGINS OF THE BLUES

First Published Blues Song - 1912

Mamie Smith:“Crazy Blues”

First recording by African-American

First Recorded Blues hit (1920)

Full Jazz Band

But did it start there?

European Influences

THE 1920’S

Prohibition and the roaring 20’s

• When was prohibition?? 1920—1931• Blues in clubs and ‘speakeasies’• Blues in house parties and rent parties– “Blues on the Block”

• Single women in cities– Modern Millie?

Women & The Blues

• Was Blues a Woman’s Genre?– History in Black Community– Perception in Jazz Recording

• Domestic violence• New found “freedom”• Lifestyle… (loose)

Bessie Smith:“ Taint Nobody’s Business”

Ma Rainey, Ida Cox, Victoria Spivey, Lucille Brogan, Ethel Waters, Alberta Hunter:

Blind Blake“ West Coast Blues” 1926

Bessie Smith:“Nobody Knows You

When You’re Down and Out”

Collapse of recording industry in 1930’s

• Causes: Great Depression, Radio

• Effects:– Many players “lost” not to be “rediscovered” until

1960’s– Live music in small venues– Radio and travelling musicians spread music out of

regional microcosms

COUNTRY BLUES INSTRUMENTS

Percussion in Early Blues

• Drums were outlawed…

Keeping it Simple:The Diddley Bo to the Slide Guitar

Son House (1902-1988)“Walking Blues”

Diddley Bo Bo Diddley

Charlie Patton (c.1888 – 1934)

Blind Willie Johnson: “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” 1927

More sophisticated Instruments

REGIONAL STYLES

Regional Blues Styles

See http://www.pbs.org/theblues/classroom/defgeography.html

Birthplace of Modern Blues:The Mississippi “Delta” Region

A Life Filled with Blues:Sharecropping in the Delta

“Mississippi County Farm Blues”, Son House: 1930

Son House: 1902-1988

Ramblin’ on my Mind:The Travelling Blues Singer

“Juke Joints”

Robert Johnson (1911-1938)“Crossroad Blues”

Robert Johnson:“Kindhearted Woman”, 1936

Robert Johnson (1911-1938)

Skip James: “Devil’s Got My Woman” 1931

Mississippi John Hurt“Lay My Burden Down”

Piedmont Blues

Elizabeth Cotton: “Freight Train” 19xx

Gary Davis (1896-1972)“I Heard the Angels Singing”

Texas Blues

Blind Willie Johnson“Nobody’s Fault But Mine”

Blind Lemon Jefferson: “Matchbox Blues” 1927

Lightning Hopkins: “Come Back Baby” 1950’s

SETTING THE STAGE FOR MODERN BLUES

Chicago Blues:The Great Flood of 1927 & The Great Migration

Black Population 1990

Black Population 1900

Memphis Minnie:“Bumble Bee”

Big Bill Broonzy: “Pig Meat Strut/Hey Hey” 193x

Jug Bands and Ensembles

Racial Divisions

• Market segmentation by recording labels

• Musicians transcended these barriers but still were constrained by markets

Hillbilly Blues – The Delmour Brothers: “Big River Blues” 1933

Broadway and the BluesGeorge Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess”:

“Summertime” 1935

Folk Musicology in the 1940’s

Son House Muddy Waters Bukka White

Blind Willie McTell: “Statesboro Blues”

McKinley Morganfield:“Can’t Be Satisfied”, 1941

Catfish Blues a.k.a. Rolling Stone, The Stars, the Almost Forgotten, and the Forgotten

And forgotten Bluesman Tom Toy…

BLUES IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY

Blues on Your Block:DC Blues Society – Free Jams

Electric Jam every 1st Sunday 4-8pmSilver Spring, MD

Acoustic Jam every 4th Sunday 11 am – 2 pmThe Mansion at O Street, Washington DC

http://www.dcblues.org/

Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation

Acoustic Jam Every Saturday 1-6 pmRiverdale, MD

http://www.acousticblues.com/

DCBS Annual Free Concert Labor Day Weekend at

Carter Barron Amphitheater in Washington, DC

NEXT WEEKEND!!!! 26th Annual FREE DC Blues Festival

Saturday, August 30, 2014 Noon-7:30pm

http://www.dcblues.org/

Chesapeake Bay Blues FestivalAnnapolis, MD every May

Books & Videos: History

Books and Videos: Learn to Play the Blues!

Take a Blues Vacation?

John Hurt’s CabinAvalon MS

Delta Blues MuseumClarksdale, MS

Or watch a video of someone else’s trip…

Bonnie Raitt / Chris Smither:“Love Me / You Like a Man”

Blues in the CommunitySlides are available at:

www.mosbyterritory.comDr. Will WilliamsonAlona WilliamsonSponsored by the DC Blues Society

www.dcblues.org

BACKUP

Bukka White: “Aberdeen Blues”,

Mance Lipscomb: “” 19xx

Lead Belly : “Midnight Special” 19xx

Chicago Blues 2:Electric Guitars and Big Bands

Gary Davis (1896-1972)Extensive Recordings 1955-1966

Blind Gary Davis “Hesitation Blues”

Rev. Gary Davis “I Heard the Angels Singing”

Hillbilly Blues – Frank Hutchison: “???” 192x

Mance Lipscomb: “” 19xx

Oh, By the way…

Pink Anderson Floyd Council

Nobody’s Fault But Mine

In My Time of Dying

Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed

When The Levee Breaks

Keeping the Blues Alive:Hot Tuna – Acoustic and Electric

1970 40 yrs Later

T-Bone Walker: “Stormy Monday” 19xx