The Blues is one of America’s great contributions to the world. It was the primary ingredient in all Jazz and Pop Music. Tonight, we will visit the area that produced the Blues. It began as a country music on guitars, harmonicas, and piano. After WW2 it became electrified and moved to Chicago. Tonight, we will sample the styles and contributions of these original musicians. We will hear Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, BB King, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Otis Rush, Albert King, J.B. Lenoir and many others.

COURSE OUTLINE

• What is the Blues and why was the Mississippi Delta so important
• The structure of the genre why is it simple and yet complex
• The Country Blues Kings, Robert Johnson, Son House, and others
• The start of the Blues Band with Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf
• The place of Blues in Modern Music

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Develop and understanding of Blues Music and why it is so important today.
2. Examine the physical and social environment of the Delta and how so many people spread out in this area developed the various styles of this music.
3. Appreciate the contributions of the major artists who popularized and developed the foundations of Blues Music.
4. Hear and examine important Blues tunes that are considered classics today.
5. Dissect and understand the basic elements of the Blues including structure, instrumentation, and lyrics.