The History of the Blues
From the Mississippi Delta to Chicago – and to the whole world.
The blues began in African American communities in the southern United States. It expressed hardship, longing and humour – and it became the foundation of jazz, rock and roll, soul and much of the popular music we hear today.
The Story
The blues grew up in the late 1800s in the Deep South of the United States, especially in the Mississippi Delta. African Americans, living with poverty and racial segregation after the end of slavery, sang about their lives. The blues drew on work songs, field hollers and spirituals, and on African traditions such as call and response.
In 1912, the bandleader W. C. Handy published "The Memphis Blues", and in 1920 Mamie Smith's "Crazy Blues" became a hit – the first blues recording by an African American singer. Singers like Bessie Smith, "the Empress of the Blues", became stars. In the Delta, guitarists such as Robert Johnson recorded songs in 1936 and 1937 that later inspired generations of musicians.
During the Great Migration, millions of African Americans moved north to cities like Chicago. There, the blues went electric: Muddy Waters and others played with amplified guitars and harmonicas. In the 1960s, young British bands discovered these records – the Rolling Stones even took their name from a Muddy Waters song – and brought the blues back to America and the rest of the world.
Timeline
The key dates at a glance.
- Late 1800sThe blues develops in the Mississippi Delta.
- 1912W. C. Handy publishes "The Memphis Blues".
- 1920Mamie Smith records "Crazy Blues", a huge hit.
- 1920sBessie Smith becomes "the Empress of the Blues".
- 1936–1937Robert Johnson makes his famous recordings.
- 1940s–1950sElectric blues develops in Chicago.
- 1960sBritish bands spark a worldwide blues boom.
Key People
The musicians who shaped this story.
W. C. Handy
1873–1958Bandleader and composer known as "the father of the blues".
Bessie Smith
1894–1937The most successful blues singer of the 1920s.
Robert Johnson
1911–1938Delta guitarist whose few recordings became legendary.
Muddy Waters
1913–1983Brought the Delta blues to Chicago and made it electric.
B. B. King
1925–2015Guitarist famous for his expressive, singing style.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| the blues | der Blues | The blues is music about hard times. |
| to feel blue | niedergeschlagen sein | She's been feeling blue all week. |
| blue note | Blue Note | Blue notes give the blues its typical sad sound. |
| 12-bar blues | 12-taktiges Bluesschema | Most blues songs follow the 12-bar pattern. |
| work song | Arbeitslied | Work songs helped people keep a rhythm while working. |
| call and response | Ruf und Antwort | The guitar answers the voice: call and response. |
| slide guitar | Slide-Gitarre | He played slide guitar with a bottleneck. |
| harmonica | Mundharmonika | The harmonica is often called a "blues harp". |
| segregation | Rassentrennung | Segregation shaped the lives of Black Americans in the South. |
| Great Migration | Große Migration | During the Great Migration, millions moved to northern cities. |
Useful Phrases
Language for talking about music and its history.
Talking about the blues
- It's a song about loss and hard times.
- You can hear the influence of the blues in…
- It follows a 12-bar pattern.
- The guitar answers the singer.
Talking about influence
- Without the blues, there would be no rock and roll.
- It inspired a whole generation of musicians.
- It was rediscovered by…
- It's the foundation of…
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Why do you think sad songs can make people feel better?
- Which modern music can you hear blues influence in?
- Why was the blues important for African Americans?
- Have you ever listened to old blues recordings? What did you notice?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. Where did the blues mainly develop?
In the Mississippi Delta, in the southern United States.
2. Who was called "the Empress of the Blues"?
Bessie Smith.
3. Which British band took its name from a Muddy Waters song?
The Rolling Stones.
Explore More
More from the Music History series.
Every song has a history.
Learn the story, learn the words – and share what you discover in English.
From hard times, great music.