Who was the first famous blues musician?
Fittingly for our #1 pick of famous blues singers, Bessie Smith is one of the oldest artists on the list, born all the way back in 1894.
What ethnicity were early blues musicians?
African Americans
blues, secular folk music created by African Americans in the early 20th century, originally in the South.
Did slaves make blues music?
Contrary to what some people believe, the blues is not “slave music.” Although it was cultivated by the descendants of slaves, the blues was the expression of freed African Americans. The Great Migration directly influenced the blues’ many evolutions.
Who is known as the father of blues?
Born in Florence, Alabama on November 16, 1873, William Christopher Handy became interested in music at an early age.
Who proclaimed himself the father of the blues?
W.C. Handy
Handy—the “Father of the Blues”—dies.
Who was the godfather of the blues?
William Christopher Handy (November 16, 1873 – March 28, 1958) was an American composer and musician who referred to himself as the Father of the Blues. Handy was one of the most influential songwriters in the United States.
What city is considered the birthplace of the blues?
CLARKSDALE, Miss.
Mississippi town known as ‘Birthplace of the Blues’ to offer live music every night. CLARKSDALE, Miss. — One Mississippi town known as ‘The Birthplace of the Blues’ is doubling down on efforts to have live blues music inside at least one venue in the city every single night of the week. Clarksdale, Miss.
Who are the most influential blues artists of the 1920s?
GAB Archive/Redferns/Getty Images Arguably the founding father of Texas blues, Blind Lemon Jefferson was one of the most commercially successful artists of the 1920s and a major influence on younger players including Lightnin’ Hopkins and T-Bone Walker.
How did blues musicians contribute to the development of blues music?
Each contributed to the music, through their instrumental skills—usually on the guitar—or vocal talents. Their early recordings and performances influenced the cultural impact of the blues and the generations of artists who followed.
Who is the father of Texas blues?
Arguably the founding father of Texas blues, Blind Lemon Jefferson was one of the most commercially successful artists of the 1920s and a major influence on younger players including Lightnin’ Hopkins and T-Bone Walker.
Who is the best blues singer of all time?
10 Early Artists Who Defined the Blues. 1 Bessie Smith (1894-1937) Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images. Known as “The Empress of the Blues,” Bessie Smith was the best and most famous female 2 Big Bill Broonzy (1893-1958) 3 Blind Lemon Jefferson (1897-1929) 4 Charley Patton (1887-1934) 5 Leadbelly (1888-1949)