Originally Posted by: hunter60Okay, fine, but where did the blues originate?
I've read that the lyrics are from "slave songs" or bastardized hymns. No idea how accurate that is.
I do know the music has it's direct roots in being a simplification of ragtime, two-steps and cakewalks. Like the music of American genius Scott Joplin!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Joplin
Also, note, that another couple of my faves, Gershwin & Ellington had already created and fully incorporated "bluesy" elements into their playing and tunes by the time of Robert Johnson's 1936 recordings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gershwin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Ellington
