List of books and articles about blues music online. Robert johnson cant you hear the wind howl the life and music of robert johnson. Jazz and blues historian ted gioia tackles the often uncertain biographies of robert johnson, charley patton, son house, and others who cultivated their art in the land that lies between the confluence of the mississippi and yazoo rivers. Deep blues is a history of delta blues written by robert palmer one of the great music writers of the last half of the twentieth century.
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Delta blues by carolyn haines goodreads share book. Alfred beginning delta blues guitar bookdvd musician. Stretching from vicksburg, mississippi to memphis, tennessee, the delta was transformed in the nineteenth century from an undeveloped island of hardwood forest and bayous to one of the richest cotton producing areas of the deep south.
The stories here take place in the mississippi delta, and directly or peripherally they all involve the blues. Jul 28, 2017 fat possum records and amazon music recently teamed up for a 10lp set of blues deep cuts called worried blues. For travel through may 31, 2020, there are no changecancellation fees. At delta lou music, we preserve the american blues and the lost art of slide guitar through our freedownloadable lessons and our community commentary of the american delta blues circa 19201939. The essential history of this distinctly american genre. Delta blues slide guitar is a complete guide to the techniques and music of bottleneck acoustic blues a genre that can be traced back over 100 years to the mississippi delta. These musicians are the pillars upon which the houses of folk, rock, and blues have been built. After a convenient hotel pickup, embark on a journey down the famed highway 61 and explore blues history at landmarks like the crossroads, the delta blues museum, the grammy museum mississippi, and the.
Today, delta blues is a melting pot of traditional blues, a bit of pop and a good pinch of cajun spice. The songs and lessons illustrated in this e book give the learner a solid foundation in beginning delta blues. There are many fine books on the blues, so i thought i would share with you my recommendations. Robert johnson king of the delta blues singers vol. The mississippi delta is historically famous for its fertile soil and the poverty of farm workers. If you have any blues books you dont want, please let me know. May 16, 2017 texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink. In this book, ted gioia gets to the roots of the rootsthe delta blues, arguably the greatest. The blues had a baby and they named it rock n roll. This songbook provides a nice spoonful of blues by artists from the fifties chuck berry and elvis, the sixties cream, the seventies zz top, acdc, led zeppelin and deep purple, the eighties stevie ray vaughan and the. Alfred beginning delta blues guitar bookdvd musicians.
At a crossroads in the mississippi delta, robert johnson is said to have sold his soul to the devil so that he could become a guitar virtuoso and king of the delta blues. All of this work is now available for free download on my website, and it will stay that way forever. It originated in the mississippi delta, a region of the united states that stretches from memphis, tennessee in the north to vicksburg, mississippi in the south, the mississippi river on the west to the yazoo river on the east. Gioia, the author of three books on jazz and two books on music as social function work songs and healing songs, keeps jumping between several different levels. The early masters of american blues series provides the unique opportunity to study the true roots of modern blues. My son was a teacher for tfa in the delta and lived in clarksdale for a couple of years.
A musical and cultural history of the mississippi delta by robert palmer, escaping the delta. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon music best sellers. The life and times of the mississippi masters who revolutionized american music by gioia, ted isbn. Any recommendations for a delta blues finger picking book. The life and times of the mississippi masters who revolutionized american music by ted gioia norton, 449 pp. Fred mcdowell the voice of mississippi delta blues guitar tab music book. It originated in the mississippi delta, a region of the united states that stretches from north to south between memphis, tennessee, and vicksburg, mississippi, and from east to west between the yazoo river and the mississippi river. Quarterly journal of the music library association it is a good read with a nice way of getting the facts across. However, there isnt a single source that traces the entire arc of the delta blues from its absolute origins at the turn of the century, through the era of the classic blues singers of the 20s and 30s. Published by tyrus books and edited by carolyn haines with a forward by fellow mississippian morgan freeman, delta blues features stories set in the mississippi delta and written by such talents as james lee burke, john grisham, charlaine harris, and yours truly. This collection of short fiction captures both the art of the tale and the power of the blues, and is a nod at the human condition that often inspires musicians to write and sing the blues. Ryan is a delta in a world where alpha, omega and beta are the top of the food chain. The night of samhain is fast approaching, and for that one night a year, gray and the last remaining dire wolvesamongst othersare entrusted with the protection of the veil between worlds, while its at its thinnest.
Its where blues guitar was first heard over 60 years before led zeppelin, eric clapton and others brought it to the masses. Contributing to the volume are ace atkins, lynne barrett, james lee burke, suzann ellingsworth, beth ann fennelly, bill fitzhugh, tom franklin, john grisham, carolyn haines, charlaine harris, suzanne hudson, alice jackson. Blind lemon jefferson easy rider blues blind willie mctell statesboro blues kansas joe when the levee breaks mamie smith and her jazz hounds crazy blues memphis minnie where is my good man at mississippi john hurt avalon blues nora bayes homesickness blues sam collins lonesome road blues. This book is about clarksdale, a small town in mississippi, usa, and how the local community has revitalised the longdilapidated downtown, with the renewal based on the towns intimate association with blues music and the culture that flows through the mississippi delta. Now, in the 21st century, these early players are recognized as founding fathers of the blues genre. In addition to stefans expert transcriptions, the book includes a cd containing the original artists recordings so you can hear and feel the music, as it was originally performed. Ted gioia provides an overview of the players and culture of the mississippi delta in the 20s and 30s. A ted gioia book about delta blues blindmans blues forum.
Chasing that devils music searching for the blues by gayle dean wardlow probably my favorite. Delta blues lessons how to play blues guitar burninguitar. Beginning finger picking for the delta blues guitar delta blues style finger picking and use of the bottleneck slide is essential to learn when studying the various playing styles of the artists from this important musical genre. The past three years i poured a lot of work and study into putting onto paper what ive learned from the old blues masters. In this lesson, well look at a slowpaced delta blues style number complete with callandresponse licks, heavy use of 7th chords and a driving, steady beat. Patton was a true virtuoso of the early delta blues, and this book treats him as the flawed king he was. He said its probably the best single book on the delta blues that hes ever. And the reason is that it is a valuable collection of solos by players like charley patton, son house, willie brown, robert johnson, and others. Wardlow is a wellknown delta blues scholar and record collector. Mississippi delta blues fingerstyle solos made easy 9780786665969 by mccabe, larry and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Jackson offers a unique and entertaining look at the history of delta blues and teaches the basic vocabulary of delta blues style with this twoprong, book anddvd approach. Delta blues is one of the earliestknown styles of blues. The holy sites of delta blues will tell you where that legendary deal was supposed to have been made and guide you to all the other hallowed grounds that nourished mississippis signature music.
There is a lot of infomation to get you understanding delta blues. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Here are our takes on the 15 best delta blues songs. It is truly a unique culture and the blues music is awesome. In delta blues lessons you will study the most used chords in the delta blues and the most common rhythmic variations. The delta blues museum was established in 1979 by the carnegie public library board of trustees and reorganized as a standalone museum in 1999, the delta blues museum is mississippis oldest music museum and the nations first museum dedicated to the american art form known as the blues. This book features notation, tablature, and three compact discs of phrasebyphrase audio instruction for the intermediate guitarist. In a world where the alpha are the law, beta the order, and omega the knowledgethe delta have become the oppressed. Do your self a big favor if you like blues music, buy this book. Delta blues guitar is a book that has been around for quite awhile, that is, it has stood the test of time.
Record companies began to record african american music. You will put them into practice in full e and a blues. A musical and cultural history of the mississippi delta. Read this book while intermittently listening to charlie pattons collected recordings. My day job keeps me extremely busy, but my time will free up considerably this summer. Delta blues book hennepin county library bibliocommons. In its earliest form, the style became the first black guitardominated music to make it onto phonograph records back in the late 20s. It is considered one of the greatest and most influential blues releases.
Delta blues definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Blues delta blues delta blues the delta blues style comes from a region in the southern part of mississippi, a place romantically referred to as the land where the blues were born. One of the true masters of delta styles is my good friend, paul rishell. Delta blues book omaha public library bibliocommons.
This musical and cultural history traces the blues. My attraction to traditional blues, he writes, was no doubt fueled by my growing dissatisfaction with the overpowering commercialization and. He is the editor of the encyclopedia of the blues 2006 and author of. Any way you look at it, delta blues is influential on blues music and lets be honest, its a ton of fun to play. Palmer treads the fine line between scholarship and readability and makes the book both informative and interesting.
King of the delta blues singers is a compilation album by american delta blues musician robert johnson, released in 1961 on columbia records. From 1993 to 2001 he was the blues archivistmusic librarian at the university of mississippi. Im working my way through one of grossmans country blues books but he seems to cover it all. The mississippi delta is the birthplace of the blues. There have been many blues books published over the years focussing on individual blues styles and artists. Blues traveling is the first and only guidebook to mississippis musical places and blues history. The delta blues is one of the earliest styles of blues music. A resident of new orleans for the last few years of his life, he was a close neighbor and friend of john sinclair, poet, d. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. Pioneers like howlin wolf and muddy waters paved the way for many british artists who created a pop influenced blues style. Stefan grossman, noted roots blues guitarist and musicologist, has compiled this fascinating collection of 14 songs from seven pivotal early blues guitarists from the mississippi delta.
Blues songbook just like the muddy waters song said. Get your mojo working with these essential delta resources. Together with palmers deep blues, i consider them a mandatory read for a blues music aficionado. Looking for recommendations for delta blues method books. Theres no question that delta blues is one of the earliest forms of blues music. As the legend of delta blues man robert johnson has grown and mutated into a kind of scholarly fervor, the reputation of robert. Facebook, and on the delta lou youtube channel to meet other blues fanatics. New orleans was a popular center for jazz, especially in the 1920s. Beginning finger picking for the delta blues guitar. Buy a cheap copy of delta blues book by carolyn haines.
These qualities make 100 books every blues fan should own a valued purchase for serious blues lovers and librarians alike. In general delta blues, country blues and ragtime is called fingerstyle these days. Youll find your delta blues sheet music at sheet music plus. My husband is a blues musician as well as an academic. The more we visit, the more i appreciate the people, their struggles and their history. Delta air lines airline tickets and airfare to worldwide. It is not a book of technique or teaching for beginers, i like to think of it as a quick stroll through some of the early delta blues players and their individual styles. The holy sites of delta blues, third edition will tell you where that legendary deal was supposed to have been made and guide you to all the other hallowed grounds that nourished mississippis signature music. Stefan grossman, noted rootsblues guitarist and musicologist, has compiled this fascinating collection of 14 songs from seven pivotal early blues guitarists from the mississippi delta. The life and times of the mississippi masters who revolutionized american music by ted gioia, goes beyond. The list starts with general books of the blues essential reading, followed by blues artists in alphabetical order, interjected with blues books on particular themes. These lessons detail tunes by willie brown, tommy johnson, and mississippi john hurt.
But a few pages later, the book starts to be tremendously useful. Delta blues was advertised on page 14 of rifter 35. Gray and his pack mate law short for lawson have found their mates in ryan and one of his fellow delta s being held captive at the howling. Delta blues slide guitar fundamental changes music book. In 2003, the album was ranked number 27 on rolling stone magazines list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. As stated above the list below comprises my personal recommendations of blues books in various. The life and times of the mississippi masters who revolutionized american music by ted gioia. Edward komara is the crane librarian of music at the state university of new york at potsdam. Delta blues sheet music and music books at sheet music plus. Experience the blues in its birthplace on this guided excursion in the mississippi delta.
Baby, please dont go blow, wind, blow the blues had a baby and they named it rock and roll champagne and reefer close to you i wanna get deep down in florida evil good news got my mo jo working honey bee i cant be satisfied i. Get the guaranteed best price on general guitar instruction books like the alfred beginning delta blues guitar bookdvd at musicians friend. Over the 1920s and 1930s, country blues, delta blues and memphis blues originated out of their respective areas, employing various instruments and differing sounds. The mississippi delta is ground zero of the blues, meaning it was here where it all began. Due to high call volume, please contact us only if you are traveling in the next 72 hours. The widest selection of delta blues sheet music, songbooks, and music books.
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