Blues is a type of music developed by African Americans in the Deep South of the Unites States at the end of the nineteenth century. It was strongly influenced by African musical traditions, which African slaves brought to America. These included spirituals (religious songs using vocal harmony) and work songs, which were sung rhythmically in time to tasks and used call and response.
Blues songs normally have four beats in a bar and traditionally were performed by one singer accompanied by guitar or banjo! The lyrics of blues songs are often very emotional, such as about love or loneliness – this links to the idea of people having the ‘blues’ when they’re sad.
Minutes in this collection
