Blues: A Genre Born from Experience and Emotion
Blues is a seminal music genre and form that emerged among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Drawing from spirituals, work songs, and field hollers, its unique sound is defined by the call-and-response pattern, the blues scale, "blue notes", and specific chord progressions like the ubiquitous twelve-bar blues, often featuring an AAB lyrical structure to convey narrative.
This powerful music became a crucial expression of African American culture, frequently narrating the hardships and racial discrimination faced by Black communities. The term "Blues" itself likely derives from "blue devils," signifying melancholy and sadness.
Initially evolving from unaccompanied vocal traditions, blues chronicled its first publications around 1908 and later diversified into regional styles such as Delta blues and Chicago blues. Post-World War II, it transitioned from acoustic to electric, broadening its appeal.
The genre's profound influence is evident in its foundational role in the development of jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll, notably giving rise to blues rock in the 1960s and 1970s.