The Blues musical form “originated in African-American communities in the “Deep South” of the United States around the end of the 19th century. The genre is a fusion of traditional African music and European folk music, spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads.” (Wikipedia) Blues musical form has been the primary influence on later musical genres such as jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll.  There are many larger than life characters in the history of the blues and who gave it the flavour that is has. Some of the most famous blues musicians who are part of the fascinating story of blues music:

Blues Music Maestros

B.B. King

• BB King started his singing career aged 16, when he joined a church choir.
• He went on to be Memphis radio station DJ with the nickname: “Beale Street Blues Boy.” When he cut his first record in 1949 he was already known as B.B. King – the shortened version of “Blues Boy.”
• Over the next 30 years BB King toured constantly. He collected16 Grammy Awards, 2 honorary doctorates, countless blues awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

• Stevie Ray moved to Austin, Texas after he quit school at the age of 16, following his older brother and guitarist, Jimmy, and his dream to be a musician as well.
• His first album ‘Texas Flood’ sold over 500,000 copies and popularized the Blues Rock sound and put Stevie Ray in the spotlight.
• Stevie Ray earned himself 6 Grammys and became a genuine guitar hero and global star.
• Stevie Ray was killed in a Wisconsin helicopter crash in 1990 returning home after he he had appeared on stage with his brother Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, and Buddy Guy.

Big Bill Broonzy

• Big Bill Broonzy was born in Mississippi in 1893, one of 17 children.
• Big Bill made his name when he moved to Chicago and played in a blues band with his half-brother Washboard Sam and pianist Black Bob Hudson.
• In1938, Big Bill’s music was first introduced to a white audience when he played in New York’s Carnegie Hall Spirituals To Swing concert.