Film About Blues Music, Artist

Film About Blues Music, Artist
In regards to his documentary film about blues music, Artist has several potential legal issues that he
should be aware of. In his business endeavors, Artist will encounter situations where copyrights,
contracts, negligence, trademarks, defamation, and freedom of expression will come into question.
To ensure that he protects himself and his ideas, Artists should approach these situations in the best
legal manner. To begin, Artist mentioned that he wants to his friend, Lightnin' Lornella's music for
the opening credits in his documentary about blues music and it's history. Artist's potential issue here
however, is that Lightnin' Lornella is touring in Europe and he is unable to get in contact with her.
Artists plans on using Lornella's ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In a similar respect, Artist also wants to use snippets from other musicians in his documentary.
Unlike Lightnin' Lornella, these artists are not personal friends. To dive any and all issues, he should
also get the proper permissions of use given that this is copyrighted work and he is using it in
something that might result in profit. In addition to the usage of the music of several artists, Artist
also wants to interview locals form blues music towns and have those individuals share personal and
revealing stories about the musicians' lives and their interactions with them. In doing so, the people
that Artist interviews and includes are sharing their own personal accounts of stories, which is
considered freedom of expression, but if they are to disclose information that could tarnish the
reputations of the artists, those individuals could be at risk of getting legal action pursued against
them under a defamation suit. These musicians are considered celebrities and information that they
would not want to be disclosed to the pubic could be something that disables them from functionally
living as a member of society in terms of making a living. Due to his lack of a license, Artist
commissions Chet to drive him everyday for 10 days to various places where blues music is played
as long at it is within a 20 mile radius of Memphis. As compensation, Artist will pay Chet $475.00
per day plus expenses. While this agreement had the
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Blues Music Analysis
With all the sadness in the world, where have the blues gone? Blues music is one of the most
creative and expressive genres out there, yet it is wildly underappreciated among younger
generations. They are unaware of the beauty and history of the misunderstood genre. In order to
understand the blues, we must discuss what blues music is, its history, and the state of the blues
today. Blues music is mainly defined by its lyrics, which are more lyrical in nature, rather than
narrative. In B.B. King's song, "Every Day I Have the Blues," King gives us a good example of
what blues music is generally about,
Every day, every day I have the blues
Ooh every day, every day I have the blues
When you see me worryin' baby, yeah it's you I hate to lose
Blues music is known for its expression of emotion such as sadness and melancholy usually in
relation to love. In King's example, he was singing about a woman he had lost and his troubles
finding love. He repeats this phrase three times during the song with long lyrical pauses between
stanzas for instrumental solo usually by the lead singer on the guitar or piano. King is known for
never playing while he sang. He would either play or sing, but never both at the same time. The
blues are also known for its twelve–bar music structure which makes it distinct to other genres of
music. Being a twelve–bar musical structure means that the music generally has the same phrase,
chord structure, and duration. The chord structure is always

Delta Blues, And Southern Blues : The Origin Of Blues Music
Originating from the African–American community in the southern United States, blues music is a
temporal folk tradition that possesses lyrics remarking life. Blues music emphasizes the emotions of
individuals; the performers express their various feelings of sorrow, anger, joy, or lust through music
and words. The realistic perspective on fundamental emotions of all human beings delivered by
blues music produces the appeal of blues around the world. There is a variety of blues music;
however, the subgenres in this discussion will be classic delta blues, Texas blues, Soul blues,
Chicago blues, and British Blues Based Rock.
First, classic delta blues, one of the earliest of blues music originated from the Mississippi Delta and
is regarded as a regional variant of country blues. The style of Delta blues consists of a guitar,
harmonica, and slide guitar. "Traveling Riverside Blues" certainly sounds classic and countrified as
opposed to the music I am familiar with. The atmosphere delivered by the music and vocals of
Robert Johnson was a clear evening in the South. The rhythm of the music is decent and can be
enjoyable; however, the flow and volume of Johnson's vocals makes me a bit drowsy, and I do not
understand or relate with the lyrics.
Unlike other blues music, Texas blues features more jazz and swing sounds the most. "Highway 61
Revisited" features some form of traditional blues in the way it is sung, but there is an exciting
addition to the background music. The song

Music Era Of Music : The Blues
The Blues
Tyler Bragg
MUS–110 IN1
7/15/15
After the Romantic era of music came the era of modernism. While modernism itself has the
connotation of being "now" or "current" the phrase actually refers to the rise of particular musical
styles during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. One of these styles of music was Jazz
music, a style of playing that involves a great amount of emotion and connection with the music.
Jazz music itself splintered into many different genres of music. One of these genres that inherited
the emotional and musical connections of Jazz is the blues. While the blues is a sub–genre of the
Jazz playing style, the blues itself has many very interesting and amazing characteristics, as is seen
by the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The blues developed as a sub–genre of Jazz which developed from African musicians and workers
in America during the 1800's. These musicians put in place the foundations of Jazz and blues that
allowed for the genres to prosper and flourish after new generations discovered them. The earliest
blues musicians usually played solo, with a guitar. The dynamics of the guitar and the voice were
favorable to the emotions of the time, as early blues often capitalized on being down on your luck
and struggles of life. These struggles included being lonely, where you play music alone, and being
poor, where you can afford few niceties like a guitar. Occasionally bluesmen would team up with
another to add a new and interesting element to the music. This element evolved in ways that
allowed for the genre to develop into new paths. The popular "standard" of blues performance
would then became jug bands, which were popular until the 1930's. Jug bands often featured
instruments made of household objects that were used alternatively as instruments, such as jugs and
washboards, however they did also use plenty of instruments made specifically to be used as
instruments. These bands often used guitars, mandolins, banjos, kazoos, stringed basses,
harmonicas, and fiddles to spice up the performances. For a while, this was the dominant
performance medium of the genre. This style of country blues later allowed for the emergence of a
new type of blues,

Blues Music
What is music? Music is something that we hear every day in our daily life and it can affect to our
feeling. We can hear music everywhere such as in the car, on the radio, in the supermarket, and on
the plane. In my opinion, music can stir various emotions and can make us feel sad, relax or excited.
Firstly, some songs can make you cry. Especially when you listen to blues music, you will feel really
sad. If you listen carefully, the lyrics in blues music express the sadness of life. Some songs remind
you of the bad memories. For example, "Stay With Me", "How Long", "When You Are Gone", and
"When I Was Your Man". Some movies use string instruments to develop the feeling of sadness.
Especially in the scene when the main character died.
Secondly,

What Role Does Music Play In Sonny's Blue
The role of music is important in the short story "Sonny's Blue", by James Baldwin. Sonny is the
narrator younger brother and he has a dream of become Musician. When their parents passed away,
the narrator felt like he is responsible for his younger brother and taking care of him. The narrator
was a teacher and living a stable life. When the narrator was going home, he noticed that one of
Sonny's old friend, who is always dirty and high, was waiting for him in the school. But the narrator
pretended like he hates Sonny's friend who despite his problem. Also, he told the narrator how
Sonny's life was drug addicted and will be continuing like this. Sonny was arrested for selling and
using heroin and the narrator was really angry about it. As

Blue Piano Music In A Streetcar Named Desire
The first symbols Tennessee Williams uses to develop the theme of downfall are plot symbols. One
plot symbol he uses is the blue piano music. One critic says the music of the blue piano plays "at
significant emotional moments in the play" ("Streetcar": 290). The blue piano music plays when
Blanche tells Stanley about her losing the Belle Reve Plantation (44;sc.2). The blue piano music also
plays when Stanley and Blanche face each other while Stella is in labor. As Blanche tries to get
away from Stanley "the 'blue piano' goes softly" (161;sc.10). The scene ends with Stanley raping
Blanche (162;sc.10). The final time the blue piano music plays is when the Doctor comes to take
Blanche away to the institution. After they take Blanche away "the swelling music of the 'blue
piano'" plays as Stella sobs (179;sc.11). Therefore, the blue piano music as a symbol contributes to
the theme of downfall. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When Blanche speaks privately with Mitch, she retells the story of her and her former young
husband, Allan Grey. Blanche tells Mitch about her discovering him with an older man. He later
shoots himself after they have their final dance to the Varsouviana music. (115;sc.6). Blanche
blames herself for his death because she says to him that night "'I saw! I know! You disgust me'"
(115;sc.6). Corrigan says the music plays in moments that remind Blanche of "imminent disaster"
(52). One moment this music plays is when Stanley gives Blanche a ticket back home to Laurel on
her birthday. After she opens the envelope "the Varsouviana steals in softly and continues playing"
(136;sc.8) The music also plays in the beginning of the final scene before Blanche is taken away to
the institution by the Doctor (174,sc.11). The Varsouviana polka as a plot symbol adds to the theme
of

All about the Blue Water Country Music Festival in Nelson...
All about the Blue Water Country Music Festival in Nelson Bay Australia
People usually engage in numerous visits to various world destinations. The reason for such visits
can be for business purposes or for holiday relaxation. The blue water music festival in Nelson Bay
Australia is one of the most enjoyable and interesting activities to make a holiday memorable. The
festival happens in various venues within Port Stephens which is recognized among the most
exceptional holiday destinations in Australia. Port Stephens is not so far from Newcastle and Sydney
making it a favorable destination for the music festival. People enjoy free entertainment from
various country musicians all weekend long. One of the things that make Port Stephens a more
favorable destination is the presence of beach resorts. The place is a one stop for those who love
snorkeling, surfing, and diving. There are also scuba diving activities for those who love the
experience.
Accommodation facilities in Nelson Bay
The quality of accommodation offered in Nelson Bay is excellent. A wide range of facilities is
available including caravan parks or campgrounds, motels, hotels, hostels and cozy B&Bs. The
extensive range of accommodation facilities is a reason enough for people to choose this destination
for a holiday. The hotels are high class and visitors will enjoy quality services such as fast internet,
delicious meals, entertainment and assistance from friendly employees. Some of the campgrounds
include; the

Analyzing Blues Music
The Blues: Genre Analysis
The blues is a musical genre that originated among African–Americans in the Southern United
States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From these humble and provincial origins it has
come to be appreciated all over the country and the world, and has also spread its influence even
more widely by way of its offspring, jazz and rock. While the word "genre" is certainly appropriate,
the blues can be defined more specifically as a closely related set of melodies, harmonies, rhythmic
patterns and bar structures. Unlike many musical genres, the blues is very tightly focused in fact it
could be said without much fear of exaggeration that all blues songs are variations on one song.
Nevertheless, as time went on the blues lost some of its stereotyped or formulaic aspect and
loosened up its structure to encompass a variety of forms of expression.
Basically, blues melodies are built around a major scale with fairly strong pentatonic character.
However, the third tone of the scale tends to be sung (or to the extent possible, played) slightly flat
(a "blue third"), or to be bent from the minor third up to the major third. Less often, the seventh and
fifth tones of the scale are given similar treatment. The harmony (provided by the guitar or piano in
the original solo format of blues performance) relies mainly on the I, IV, and V chords, although
some versions also make use of the VI and II. The typical progression moves from the I chord to the
IV, back

Rock And Roll Vs Blues Music
When we think of rock and roll, we think electric guitars, amplified sounds, and intricate styles of
play. But, rock and roll would have not existed without simple 12–bar forms, antiphonic textures, or
walking bass lines used in blues music. Blues music is one of the most influential characteristics that
gave birth to rock and roll. Rock and roll was influenced by elements of blues instrumentation,
rhythm, and purpose. Both rock and roll and blues are composed of drums, guitars, and vocals. As
blues music developed, it pushed the emergence of rock and roll more and more. Early rock and roll
followed a similar rhythm to blues music. The goal of both these genres of music is to create music
with raw emotion. The blues emotion–driven style of music inspired the same pattern to be followed
by rock and roll. Great examples of two songs that are ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Devil Got My Women by Skip James is a song from the blues style of music. Rock Awhile by Goree
Carter is a song from the early rock and roll style of music. Skip James music was never intended
for purposes of entertainment, and his artistic temperament was known to be volatile and
unpredictable. His music was dark and mysterious, personal and bleak and intended primarily for his
own emotional release. He often played his guitar with an open D–Minor tuning (D–A–D–F–A–D)
resulting in the deep sound. Skip James was an exceptional guitarist, and his sound often revolved
around his trademark E–minor "cross–note tuning" and an eerie falsetto vocal delivery that could
send shivers up ones spine. In Devil Got My Women, James addresses the struggle between the
flesh and the spirit, as well as good and evil, contains ones of the most classic lyrics of any blues
song. Many blues men refer to the devil, but with Skip James, one can clearly hear the anger,
jealously, and pain. Skip James also used a fingerpicking style that was fast and clean using the
entire register

Blues Music In Toni Morrison's The Song Of Solomon
Toni Morrison bases the novel off of blues music. The "song" of Solomon is based on an old blues
song about Sugarman. Morrison uses blues music to name her characters, such as Milkman's best
friend "Guitar", which is a principal instrument in blues music. The way Guitar criticizes black
women counteracts the stereotypical criticisms which Morrison, the female blues singer is
suggesting. As a novelist Morrison takes on the role as a blues singer to write how folklore can
make for a better future for her people, she also writes about the traditional male and female roles of
African American people in the blues era. A common model that Morrison uses in the novel to show
the lifestyle of her people are men who "fly" away and leave their women to ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Not only does she save him from his father's aggression while his mother, Ruth, was pregnant with
him, but it is her African smells, tastes, and spiritualism which captures his curiosity and brings back
his memory. Milkman's unraveling of his family history rests on him figuring out the folksong Pilate
sings at his birth. When Pilate sings about Sugarman flying away, she is telling and African folklore
story about how men leave their women behind to sing the blues. Morrison's attention to storytelling
traditions reflects specific aspects of women's role in African culture; Song of Solomon uses other
African artistic traditions as

The Blues Music Essay examples
Different from other forms of music, blues was only recorded by memory and passed down through
generations through live performances. The blues began in the North Mississippi Delta post Civil
War times. It was heavily influenced by African roots, field hollers, ballads, church music and
rhythmic dance tunes called jump–ups. This eventually developed into music that was set up in a
call–and– response way so that the singer would sing a line and he would then respond with his
guitar. The blues, a uniquely American art form, was born on the dusty street corners of the Deep
South in the late 1800s. An evolution of West African music brought to the United States by slaves,
created the blues which was a way for black people in the south ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This type of repetition is very common in blues composition and often resembles a form of story
telling as blues music often provides an additional narrative within the song usually dealing with the
hardships of life. Similar to the drums, the remainder of the instruments come together to create
tension, which is then followed by release. The guitar often works in unison with the vocals, acting
as a lead in the composition. Lastly, blues songs are usually set up in a 12–bar–structure, which is
divided into three segments of four bars. These 12 bars are generally made up of three chords,
whose main notes are based on the first, fourth, and fifth notes of an eight–note–scale. Additionally,
one may find certain notes that are slightly flatted, which are known as "blue notes". Blues songs are
typically played in a 4/4 time signature, meaning that four beats are found in each measure.
The blues is home to many world famous artists such as Riley B. King, also known as B.B King,
and McKinley Morganfield, also known as Muddy Waters. These artists were two very good
examples of what the blues is meant to incorporate and their legacy has and will live long passed
their deaths. B.B King is an American blue musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist, born on
September 16th, 1925 in Beclair, Mississippi. He is considered to be one of the most influential
blues musicians of all times, giving him the nicknames "The King of the Blues" as

Comparing The Interconnection Of Poetry And Music In The...
The Interconnection of Poetry and Music in "The Weary Blues"
Langston Hughes's poem, "The Weary Blues," is an example of an ekphrasis emulating a genre of
music, "the blues." The poem has a musical feel, and its rhythm and tone imitate those of blues
music. The blues originated from African American culture and became popular towards the end of
slavery. Hughes communicates the cultural origin of blues music by focusing the poem on a Negro
who plays and sings blues music. However as the poem progresses, Hughes describes actions that
cannot be known by just listening to the Negro. In the last two lines of the poem, he states what goes
on in the Negro's head while sleeping and describes him as sleeping "like a rock or a man that's
dead." Why does Hughes compare the way he sleeps to that of a dead man? How does Hughes know
what goes on in the Negro's head, and why does he end the poem with a disturbing description of
the Negro's sleeping state?
To understand the unusual comparison and disturbing ending, we need to see how Hughes
incorporates the features of blues music in the poem. The poem is written in free verse and has no
steady rhythm. Writing the poem without a consistent rhythm and in free verse relates to the
syncopated tune of blues music, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This connection does not just relate to their mutual pleasure for the blues, but as indicated by the
fifteenth line of the poem, "Coming from a black man's soul," to their common racial identity, being
black. The racial emphasis is intensified by the facelessness of the man playing the music. Hughes
identifies him by "Negro," a general name for blacks, and in the ninth line, "With his ebony hands
on each ivory key," describes the dark color of his skin pointing again to his race. Hughes may
intentionally be using the racial emphasis to describe the history of blues music, which originated
from African American

The Music Style Of The Blues
The music style known as the Blues emerged in the American South during the 1890s. It drew on a
mix of many African–American music styles with others. Some of the styles it drew upon include
African–American spirituals, traditional songs, European hymns, folk ballads, work songs and
hollers, and contemporary dance music. By the 1910s, the time period when the first recorded blues
were published as sheet music, the blues had taken the form that is recognized today; the 12 bar
blues form.(Shmoop)
The music reflects a poetic structure, with four bars of music to each of the three lines of poetry,
which adds up to the 12–bar blues. Over time the structure has evolved into a regular pattern of
chords. Also it evolved into a blues scale created by alterations to certain pitches, known as "blues
notes." As well as a blues feeling the performers enhance by bending tones or sliding into or out of
pitches to enhance their moaning, mournful "bluesy' quality. A talented blues singer can use all of
these patterns and alterations to create the feel of the blues. (Willoughby, David)
The first form of blues music to be performed and listened to was the Delta/Country Blues. Country
blues is the music of day to day life; it is the lonely music of lounging on the front porch, and the
rowdy music of the house party. (Keyes, Jessica) The lyrics of the blues deal with African American
experiences of living in the American South. Primarily it deals with the hardships of work, life, and
love. It

Hip-Hop Music, Blues, Rap, And Gospel
Music is an art that puts sounds together in a way that people like or find interesting. Most music
includes people singing with their voices or playing musical instruments, such as the piano, guitar,
or drums .In 1000 CE Guido D'Arezzo made many improvements in music theory. He first
improved and reworked standard notation to be more user–friendly by adding time signatures.The
music that is most appealing is Hip–Hop, Rhythm & Blues, Rap, and Gospel. All these have an
effect on what life should be like.
Hip–Hop In the 1970s, an underground urban movement known as Hip–Hop began to develop in the
South Bronx in New York City. It focused on breakbeats and house parties.Hip–Hop is appealing by
telling the truth about something that deal with

The Pros And Cons Of Rhythm And Blues Music
In discussions of rhythm & blues, one controversial issue has been whether song "covers" of
"authentic" rhythm & blues were an ethical or unethical practice. On the one hand, many will argue
that these covers helped to distribute and promote the rhythm & blues musical movement, extending
it to a much bigger audience. On the other hand, others will say that the covers were just another
way for large record labels and big name artists to make money off the exploitation of the original
artists. My own view is that the use of these covers is a part of the musical process, but this does not
necessarily make it an ethical practice. The act of an artist taking a song and seemingly putting their
own little twist on it to make it seem like a new work ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Sampling is when a new song will take a "sample" from an already established song in order to add
a different element to the new song and/or make it more enjoyable to the listener, particularly in the
hip hop world. This especially happens when an artist drops a mixtape, or a collection of songs that
is not distributed for the purpose of making music. There are some A–list artists whose mixtapes
would consist entirely of sampled or remixed songs, Lil Wayne being the first one to come to mind.
In a sense, a remix is the sampling of a song's entire beat and production with new lyrics being
performed over them. During my free write I actually had a lot to say about this specific topic
regarding authenticity in the new age music, especially in terms of remixes. My big question was,
"are remixes any more authentic than a cover?" I would say that they might be slightly more
authentic than covers only because a remix opens the possibility of the remix artist using the same
production to paint a completely different story than what the original artist did. This gives the
remix artist some new, quotable lyrics that can be directly tied with that artist regardless of the beat
playing under it. The best thing about remixes is that the remix artist does not profit off of this, or if
they do it is only when they get permission from the original artist to do so with some sort of
payment being given to

The Role Of Bessie Smith's Dominance In Blues Music
Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith is an American Jazz musician in the genre of blues. She was born on the date of 15th
April 1894. She is known to well for her dominance in the blues genre music in the span of around
1920s and 1930s. Bessie attributes her success, by working continuously with Louis Armstrong.
Research indicates that Louis was a key inspiration when it comes to the perfection of jazz vocals.
In her time, Bessie Smith proudly boasts as one of the best Blues musicians both in the US and the
world as a whole. However, her life was cut short in 1937 on September 26th, in a fatal car accident.
Regarding the above–mentioned information, this paper discusses more the life of Bessie Smith,
collectively with the dominance in the Blue Music (Scott, 2008).
What is Jazz type of music? It is a kind of music category that cherishes its origin in the New
Orleans, and basically from the African American people. Its styles include a traditional type of
autonomous music. It often uses polyrhythms, swing note, and syncopation improvisations. Blues
music on the hand is known to have its roots also in the Deep South, with a high dominance of the
African American musicians. It is a type of music that incorporates chants, shouts, spirituals and
relatively field hollers (Kay, 2007). The above information as mentioned above assists the reader to
know an in–depth analysis of the type of music of Bessie Smith.
Bessie Smith's birthplace is around Chattanooga in the Tennessee Valley. Her music

Role of Music in 'Sonny's Blues' by James Baldwin
The Role of Music in "Sonny's Blues"
"Sonny's Blues," by James Baldwin, explores the strained relationship that two brothers the
unnamed narrator and Sonny have and how the narrator slowly begins to recognize Sonny's
relationship with music. While the narrator is initially baffled by Sonny's dream to become a
musician, towards the end of the short story, he recognizes that Sonny depends on music and that it
is a driving force in his life, possibly one of the only things that keep him alive. "Sonny's Blues"
opens with news that Sonny has been recently apprehended during a drug bust, which establishes
that Sonny has had an ongoing problem with drug addiction, specifically heroin. While the narrator
is apprehensive about contacting Sonny after this incident as the brother have lost touch over the
years, he eventually reaches out to Sonny and gains insight into what Sonny has been doing during
their estrangement; it is also during this time that the narrator recognizes that music is not only an
artistic outlet for Sonny, but also provides an emotional and psychological catharsis for him and
those that listen to his music. Sonny best describes his dependency on music as he talks to his
brother after an old–fashioned revival meeting during which there was much singing. Sonny states,
"When she was singing before," said Sonny, abruptly, "her voice reminded me for a minute of what
heroin feels like sometimes when it's in your veins. It makes you feel sort of warm and cool at

The Effects of Blues Music on Civil Rights
Blues Music | Influences on Civil Rights in the United States | Addy Phillips |
Eddie James "Son" House, Jr., an American blues singer and guitarist once stated, "People keep
asking me where the blues started and all I can say is that when I was a boy we always was singing
in the fields. Not real singing, you know, just hollerin', but we made up our songs about things that
was happening to us at the time, and I think that's where the blues started (Cohn, 1993)." House,
living through the development of the blues and the Civil Rights Movement, had a definite grasp on
the subject at hand. Having changed his lifestyle from the church to blues, he faced many hardships
including a deadbeat father, alcoholism, affairs, and prison ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
No black person can escape the blues, because the blues are an inherent part of the black existence
in America. To be black is to be blue. The blues tell us about black people's attempt to carve out a
significant existence in a very trying situation. The purpose of the blues is to give structure to black
existence in a context where color means rejection and humiliation. Suffering and its relation to
blackness is inseparable from the meaning of the blues. Without pain and suffering, and what that
meant for black people in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas, there would have been no blues.
The blue mood means sorrow, frustration, despair, and black people's attempt to take these
existential realities upon themselves and not lose their sanity. The blues are not art for art's sake,
music for music's sake. They are a way of life, a life–style of the black community; and the will for
survival. Thus to seek to understand the blues apart from the suffering that created them is to
misinterpret them and distort the very creativity that defines them (Cone, 1980). Though the blues
were developed in the rural southern United States, toward the end of the 19th century, and found a
wider audience in the 1940s as blacks migrated to urban areas. Jazz music has dozens of variations
and also utilizes elements from other genres. Albeit the fact that it is

Blues Music Introductory Exercise
Procedures: (all sections consist of clearly stated sequential steps)
V. Introduction (The Launch)
Introductory Exercise
This exercise explores song elements and looks closely at the blues song format. Ask students to
bring the lyrics of a favorite song to class (reminding them beforehand what appropriate and
inappropriate choices would be). Start by discussing the lyrical parts of a song:
Verses–In a song, a verse is a group of lines that constitutes a unit (similar to verses in poetry).
Typically, a song consists of several verses, and the rhyme scheme and rhythm are usually the same
from verse to verse.
Chorus–A song's refrain (verse that repeats itself at given intervals throughout the song).
Bridge–Transitional passage connecting two ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Illustrate this idea by watching the segment "Sam Phillips" in the film The Road to Memphis. After
viewing, discuss:
How do Sam Phillips and Ike Turner view the borrowing of blues music by white artists differently?
Why might Turner have been less approving of such borrowing than Phillips?
How is this borrowing different from floating verses as previously discussed?
Why might black blues artists in the 1950s not have seen white artists' borrowing as a compliment?
Do cultural differences come into play when assessing appropriate and inappropriate

Blues Music Informative Speech
Wait stop! People need to know about blues music.Ecaspically my reader here you go. Blues music
is typically a music from New Orleans and Memphis and West Africa but is made up by different
type of countries from the elements from these countries above. How people feel about blues is they
feel overcoming hard luck, saying what you feel, ridding yourself of frustration, letting your hair
down, and simply having fun saying what you want to say or feel through the music.
Blues musicians first example is W. C. Handy. Which was an African–American composer and a
leader in blues music in the early 20th century. With songs like "Memphis Blues" and "St. Louis
Blues." He wrote songs all through his life period of time. Next B.B king was also another famous
musician he was called the king of blues born: September 16, 1925, MS ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Bessie smith was another good musician I call her the queen of blues. Bessie Smith was born on
April 15, 1894 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was one of seven children. Her father, a Baptist
minister, died soon after her birth, leaving her mother to raise her and her siblings. Around 1906, her
mother and two of her brothers died and Smith and her remaining siblings were raised by their aunt.
It was around this time that Smith began to perform as a street singer, accompanied on the guitar by
one of her younger brothers. Then soon she started writing more music and was the one of the best
in that period of time.The background of blues music. Sometime around 1890, the blues emerged as
the distinct African–American art form, rooted in the southern U.S. and drawing on work songs and
hollers, folk tradition, black spirituals, and the popular music of the time. Looking back from 1890,
one can speculate about the African influence in the musical structure of the blues

The Power of Music in James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues Essay
The Power of Music in James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues
At first glance, "Sonny's Blues" seems ambiguous about the relationship between music and drugs.
After all, the worlds of jazz and drug addiction are historically intertwined; it could be possible that
Sonny's passion for jazz is merely an excuse for his lifestyle and addiction, as the narrator believes
for a time. Or perhaps the world that Sonny has entered by becoming involved in jazz is the danger–
if he had not encountered jazz he wouldn't have encountered drugs either. But the clues given by the
portrayals of music and what it does for other figures in the story demonstrate music's beneficial
nature; music and drugs are not interdependent for Sonny. By studying the ... Show more content on
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The battered barmaid also needs music to insulate her from the perils of her life. She dances to
"something black and bouncy" playing on the jukebox, keeps time, smiling, and when she smiles the
reader can see both the innocent and joyous little girl she will always be and the woman still
struggling for life and dignity, even though these two personalities are hidden underneath the face of
a "semi–whore" (412). She is quicksilver when the music plays; there is still life in her that can be
coaxed to the surface. She watches the jukebox in the pause between songs, waiting for the music to
begin again, to renew her life and energy and hope. Music reveals this woman as she really is, not as
she has become, not as her environment has made her. Just as it is for the whistling schoolboy,
music for this woman is a small salvation.
Many more moments like these are worked into the story. The mother hums a hymn under her
breath; it comforts her while she watches for Sonny, who is out on the streets (419). The narrator
whistles to keep from crying after Sonny refuses his attempts at reconciliation (428). These bits of
music are tiny but significant; small musics performed by non–musicians demonstrate how music
creates good feelings. The mother may be singing off–key and the narrator probably whistles flat,
but because of their nature as song these tunes are suffused with bits of happiness, and by making
the music, the

Essay About Blues Music
Introduction Blues is a music genre originating in Africa .This genre emerged with the introduction
of African people as slaves to America's south. Slaves were employed in poor conditions in the
cotton fields before the Civil War. Making music meant avoiding the pain for them. People think
Blues music is slow and smooth because the lyrics of the Blues music always includes depression,
loneliness and anger. After the emancipation movement, Blues expanded to lots of states. Each
states blended their own culture with the blues and then they created their own specific blues genres.
Some of them Mississippi Delta Blues and Urban (Chicago) Blues.
The Beginning of the Blues Music When we talk about the blues music, the first thing that comes ...
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Recordings which were recorded in the city was quite professional than the Delta Blues records
because in the Delta records were made in the portable studios. Moreover the cost of studios were
cheaper in the Urban. Blues artists easily worked in the professional studios. When the Blues artist
started to make more professional recordings, they are realized by white people. Firstly they wanted
to introduce blues music to white teens. Before blues move into the North, blues recordings only
appealed to Blacks. They thought we should offer the blues to white people. Also they sung in bands
which are founded by white people. Due to this well–planned strategy, people understood that the
blues is not only made by black people or listened by black people. The blues gain considerable
popularity in the whole

The Importance Of Blues Music In Mississippi
The music, food, and people of the South, and Mississippi in particular, are always a point of
conversation when traveling outside the United States. The world knows the South for blues, catfish,
and the mixture of cultures that make up the people of the state. If I was asked to tell the story of the
"South" I would begin with the music of the Mississippi Delta.
The blues are a new sound according to nps.gov: The success of blues music, however, is a
relatively recent phenomenon. Originally a rural sound, strongly connected to place, blues went
unrecognized as commercially viable for years, due to racial prejudice and the subsuming of the
blues under other types of music, such as jazz and rock and roll. As the Mississippi river facilitated

B. B King's Influential Blues Music
B.B King was born September 16, 1925 in Itta Bena, MS. He was best known for his song Rock Me
Baby."The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you".B.B come out with
over 30+ songs.Most of his concert were performed in his hometown.King was in the rock and roll
hall of fame in 1987, and is considered one of the most influential blues musicians. He earned the
nickname " The King of the Blues". Rolling Stones ranked King at No 6 on its 2011 list of the 100
greatest guitarists of all time. He was very successful and had a lead guitarist named Lucille. He
died May 14, 2015, Las Vegas, NV at the age of 89.
Leadbelly was much different than B.B they were in different time periods so their music styles
were much different.

Blues Guitar Phenom AC Myles: Music Analysis
By GUY DOSSI
Blues guitar phenom AC Myles is returning to the Mother Lode and he is bringing a newly released
record along with him.
Myles, who is based out of Fresno, will be performing Thursday, April 6 at Black Oak Casino's
Willow Creek Lounge, and July 29 as a part of the Blues and Bones Festival Pre Party at the
Frogtown Fairgrounds in Angels Camp.
Myles is promoting his third studio album "With These Blues" which was released in late March.
The album, which is Myles' most blues–driven record to date, was recorded the old fashioned way –
in one day.
"This album's production very much called for the live, in the room feel, not just for guitar, but for
the entire band," Myles said.
He recorded the album with his road band, which consists of ... Show more content on
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" It did speed along the process of 'knocking it out' so to speak," Myles said.
Unlike Myles' previous two records, "Reconsider Me" (2014) and "Rush to Red" (2015), "With
These Blues" focuses primarily around the roots of his musical background, which is the blues.
While his first two records were based in the blues, "With These Blues" is as pure as blues gets.
Another noticeable difference between "With These Blues" and Myles' other records is his choice of
including five instrumental songs on the album.
"Most of these tunes were ideas I had been playing live for several months in some shape," Myles
said. "I was going for something sounding like Ike Turner's album 'A Black Man's Soul', the Jimmy
Dawkins Excello recordings of the early 1970's and Earl Hooker's 'Two Bugs & a Roach.'"
The album begins with a cover of Big Bill Broonzy's "Key to the Highway" which gives the
listeners a taste of a new sound that Myles sprinkles in throughout the remainder of the record,
which is the use of the wah pedal. Myles' incorporation of the wah was to get an Earl Hooker

Blues And Country Music Research Paper
Blues and Country music: Origin, Stories, and Influence
Music has been around for more than 100 years. Each year, the style of music is critiqued into
something new. There are many genres in music history, as well. However, the genre's of music are
completely different from one another. Each genre has its own unique way of expressing their
stories and influencing the world. Additionally, Blues and Country music seem to be the most
compared and the most contrasted. From many perspectives, the two types of music go hand–in–
hand with each other.
Blues music is mostly originated from the African American culture. Ranging from the Delta of
Mississippi and the Port of New Orleans, Blues was very popular in the southern states. Blues was
introduced to the people in the early 19th century. At a later date, Blues had spread to the mid–
western states. Blues was subject to represent betrayal, regret, letting your emotions have the best of
you, and simply ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It was introduced to the people in the early 1920's. Country music is known for also originating
from Blues music. Nashville, Tennessee has a history of originating many Country artist's ranging
from Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, and June and Johnny Cash. Today, Country music is still very
popular and it has made a tremendous spread over the years! It is expanding each year, also!
Blues and Country music both share different stories in their music. Whether it is reflecting their
feelings, expressing their heartbreak, or describing a good time they are having with other people.
However, Country music has the genre of Blues. Most country singers share the same perspectives
on how closely related both types of genre's are. In fact, most of the instruments are every similar in
each song. In each song, there is a story that the artist is trying to explain to the listener; which is
what makes them relatable. Blues and Country music both vibe with "the working man"

Electric Texas Blues Music Analysis
Rebecca McKenney
Introduction to Humanities
Mr. Mansur
28 September 2016
Listening Log: Electric Texas Blues and the 1980's Edition
In the September 14th, 2016 edition of Listening Log, we briefly explored a general overview of the
musical style known as the blues. We discovered that, like rock, the blues has many subgenres and
influential artists. Last time, we highlighted Mamie Smith (classic blues), Willie Mabon (Chicago
blues), and Dr. John (rhythm and blues). This week, we are traveling back in time to the 1980s to
explore the subgenre of electric Texas blues. According to the book All Blues Guide to the Blues,
the Electric Texas Blues has "a country feel (that) is often detectable and it's more open to outside
rhythm and blues influences. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Johnny Winter/Bullseye Management, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2016. .
"Johnny Winter Discography." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Sept. 2016. Web. 28 Sept.
2016. .
"Stevie Ray Vaughan." All Music Guide to the Blues. Ed. Vladimir Bogdanov and Stephen Thomas
Erlewine. 3rd ed. San Francisco: Back Beat, 2003. 569. Google Books. Web. 26 Sept. 2016. .
"Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial." The Official Stevie Ray Vaughan Site. Sony Music Entertainment,
n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2016. .
"Stevie Ray Vaughan Discography." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 July 2016. Web. 28 Sept.
2016. .
Sullivan, Mary Lou. Raisin' Cain: The Wild and Raucous Story of Johnny Winter. New York, New
York: Back Beat, 2010. Google Books. Web. 27 Sept. 2016. . Forward by Johnny Winter.
Vaughan, Stevie Ray. Ain't Gone 'n' Give Up on Love. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie Ray Vaughan and
Double Trouble, Richard Mullen, Jim Capfer, 1985. Youtube. Web. 28 Sept. 2016. .
Vaughan, Stevie Ray. Tell Me. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble,
Richard Mullen, 1982. Youtube. Web. 28 Sept. 2016. .
Vaughan, Stevie Ray. The Things (That) I Used to Do. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie Ray Vaughan
and Double Trouble, Richard Mullen, Jim Capfer, 1984. Youtube. Web. 28 Sept. 2016.

The Reflection Of Life : The Origin Of Blues Music
Music is a form of art, and since art reflects life, it only makes sense that music is reflective of life.
Music is used all over the world to express thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; whether it is used to
express celebration, the act of worship, the act of mourning, just to dance to, or any other reasoning,
it all comes back to the idea that music reflects life. One genre of music that is particularly obvious
in what it is trying to express, is blues music. Blues music is a genre of music that is most often
associated with melancholy lyrics and notes, combining slow and long patterns and melodic
sequences. After first rising to popularity at a fundamental time in our country's history, blues music
eventually went on to become one of the most impactful aspects in the music world because of the
several artists that gave it notoriety, as well as its obvious influence on other important musical
genres and styles. The origin of blues music dates back all the way to the late 19th century,
eventually going on to gain more recognition and popularity in the post–Reconstruction Era of the
United States and early 20th century. It is widely known that the blues have deep roots in African–
American history, having been conceived on Southern plantations where slaves would sing of their
misery and unjust lives as they were extremely mistreated and over–worked endlessly in the fields
by their slave–owners. After the end of the Civil War and Reconstruction Era, blues music began
making

The History Of Blues Music In America
The Blues first appeared in the southern states of America around the beginning of the 19th century.
Originally the poorest people in the southern plantations, often slaves near the Mississippi Delta,
were the ones to create Blues music. The documentary, Blues America, focuses on some of the
earlier years of Blues music to discover how musicians such as Bessie Smith (known as Empress of
the Blues), Blind Lemon Jefferson (the first Country Blues star who was famous for his song "Black
Snake Moan"), and Charley Patton (the Father of the Blues who was inspired by the Delta blues
musicians of his era) used the latest technologies in media to bring their music to the public.
Often times Blues is usually described as the "sound of racial suffering

Women Blues Music Essay
Out of all the topics for our assigned Research Paper, I decided to write about the forgotten history
of African Americans, the systemic oppression we faced and how that in turn affected the way
society views black women blues music. There could be many reasons why so many students are
never taught the untold history African american culture and how black woman helped shape the
blues. All throughout my experience in the education system I can remember very select few times
where I was taught about African Americans that did something positive for our community besides
Martin Luther King Jr, Harriet Tubman, and the same famous historical scholars that we always
repeatedly learn about throughout the school system. I was always taught to have ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
For instance I know there had to be Kings and Queens of African descent. Also leaders, doctors,
psychologist, teachers, scientists, leaders of the world which is why I would to start off trying to
answer my main question which is why are we conditioned and only taught about predominately
white musicians and make it seem like black musicians were a second choice option or negative
choice of study. As Angela Davis points out in Blues Legacies and Black Feminism "Billie Holiday's
songs were subversive in that they offered special privilege insights to black people about the
dominant culture.....unlike Bessie Smith and Gertrude Rainy, she did not concentrate on the musical
creations of black culture. Rather she body entered the domain of white love as it filtered through
the commodified images and market strategies......She revealed to her black audiences what the
world of white popular culture was about and invited them to discover how white people acquired a
consciousness of love and sexuality that was overdetermined by ideologies of male dominance and
heterosexism.(171) This has me invested in it particularly due to the fact that my father is African
American and my mom was of European from Germany, and I am able to relate to this subject
without being bias. I can't connect on either side of the fence so to speak and it is easy for me to put
myself in the shoes of the very same people I am

Essay On Jazz And Blues Music
Karley Dodd
N.Tolbert
History 1301
5 February 2018
The Beginning of Jazz and Blues Music Jazz was born in New Orleans nearly one hundred years
ago. It's roots can be found in the musical traditions of Africa and Europe. In fact, some people say
that jazz is the perfect combination of African and European music. From African music, jazz got
its: rhythm and "feel", "blues" quality, some even say it originated from the "Deep South" of the
United States at the end of the 19th century from slaves spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts
and chants and rhymes simple narrative ballads. From European music, jazz got its: harmony –– that
is, the chords that accompany the tunes, jazz harmony is similar to classical music's harmony,
instruments ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Mamie Smith, the first blues vocalist to attain popularity through recordings, employed jazz tenor
sax pioneer Coleman Hawkins in her group. Bessie Smith, the greatest of the early blues artists,
featured a young Louis Armstrong on some of her finest recordings. Count Basie, who once defined
jazz as nothing more than swinging the blues, featured blues shouter Jimmy Rushing in his first
band, and received a major boost in his comeback 20 years later from the more contemporary blues
stylings of Joe Williams. Lionel Hampton's big band of the 1940s introduced blues great Dinah
Washington and made hit records including "Hamp's Boogie Woogie" and "Hey! Ba–Ba–Re–Bop"
that helped launch rhythm and blues. R&B then begat rock and roll, which ultimately fed the fusion
movement in jazz, just as the "soulful" jazz of modernists such as Horace Silver and Bobby
Timmons had its impact via funk on more contemporary blues OurVLE gives a great summary of
Jazz and Blues music: "Jazz and the Blues have occupied a significant place in the cultural history
of the Americas for over a century. This dual music genre is universally recognized as an important
contribution, from an enslaved people no less, to the cultural inventory of the planet, and is
acknowledged for its distinctive impact on other music genres and art forms

Music Concert Report ( Hayward / Russell City Blues Festival
Suritaneil Sahota
Music Concert Report (Hayward/Russell City Blues Festival)
I attended a blues concert in Hayward and it was one of the most culturing experiences of my life. I
learned a lot about the culture and context surrounding the blues music. I found the lyrics thought
provoking especially, B.B. King's "Why I Sing the Blues" sung by Billy Dunn. Prior to me attending
this concert I hardly knew anything about the blues music or historical roots. I never listened to the
blues before, so I am unaware of this type of music, but I learned a lot about this style of music and
enjoyed it. I also learned about the impact Hayward had on the blues and blues musicians when
African Americans migrated from the deep south to the then unincorporated area of Hayward,
known as Russell city. Ethnically, the majority of the attendees were African American, the second
highest ethnic group attendees were Caucasian. This makes sense, since the blues and jazz were
developed in the south of the U.S. and is associated with Africans. For African Americans, the blues
and jazz goes a long way back in history, more specifically their history. It is associated with African
American history in America, as well as African oppression and liberation.
The blues is a musical style of feeling, a style about playing what comes from your heart. It came
from work songs, field chants, spirituals, field hollers and revivalist hymns from the African
American communities. Blues is associated with the sad times

Evolution Of Jazz And Blues. The Music Styles Of Jazz And
Evolution of Jazz and Blues The music styles of Jazz and Blues are both considered to be great
American musical art forms (Covach, 2015). These styles are also two very important "roots" of
music and have evolved from the late 19th century and early 20th century to lead to the
development of Rock and Roll. Jazz and Blues both originated from African–American
communities when slaves were brought over to North America from Africa (Schuller, 1986). As
time passed and the culture of America was constantly changing, so was the music of that time
period. The country was starting to recover from slavery and many Caucasians and African
Americans were beginning to emerge in the music scene together. From the Blues era, we get artists
like B.B. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Classic Blues were established by female vocalists like Ma Rainey, Mamie Smith, and Bessie
Smith (Ferris, 2009). The Urban Blues were basically the Delta Blues but enhanced with electric
guitars (Covach, 2015). This form of Blues helped to spark the Great Northern Migration. This
migration resulted in many African–American musicians moving north to escape slavery and find
better jobs (Covach, 2015). A few of the artists that we get in the Blues genre are B.B. King, Muddy
Waters, and Bo Diddley (Ferris, 2009). These artists began producing music that followed the
twelve bar form and mimicked the call–and–response style of old field hollers (Covach, 2015). The
Blues paved the way for the up–and–coming form of the Jazz genre called Rhythm & Blues and
eventually it will lead to the creation of Rock & Roll. The Blues had an influence on many of the
bands and artists in the Rock & Roll era. One of the most famous being The Rolling Stones. The
Rolling Stones are a British band that rose to fame during the British Invasion in the United States
(Covach, 2015). They have referenced The Blues as being a huge influence if their music.
The music genre of Jazz is the other great, American, musical, art form. The genre also originated
from African–American communities in the South (Covach, 2015). One of the most famous places
in the south that Jazz style was performed at was

The Motif Of Music In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin
In his short story, Sonny's Blues, Baldwin picks the motifs music and light and dark to reinforce and
reveal that the source of suffering is racism and it must be controlled to be coped with.
Baldwin uses the motif of music to emphasize relieving the suffering of racism in Harlem. Sonny
takes the narrator to a bar where he will be playing music in. Sonny wants the narrator to hear him
play, and when the narrator does he thinks, "Freedom lurked around around us and I understood, at
last, that he could help us to be free if we would listen, that he would never be free until we did,"
(47). In other words, listening to Sonny's music allowed the narrator and the rest of the audience to
find a way to relieve the suffering with the idea that they ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Sonny takes the narrator to a bar where he and his band will be playing. The narrator is taken to a
table in the corner to listen to the music. The band begins to play and the narrator observes that
Creole, the bass fiddler, is telling the audience what the blues were really about. "For, while the tale
of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must
be heard. There isn't any other tale to tell, it's the only light we've got in all this darkness," (46). In
other words, every single person suffers in their own way. People must find new ways to express
their suffering. The light illuminates the darkness and makes it less terrifying, helping ease the
reality of racism. Sonny takes the narrator to a bar where he and his band will be playing. The
narrator is guided to a table in the corner where he will observe the performance and hear Sonny
play. While sitting at the table, the narrator notices that the band was behaving as "if they moved
into the light too suddenly, without thinking, they would perish in flame," (44). The light represents
the suffering that is racism, and the darkness that the band is standing in represents a type of safe
zone from the racism. The band is scared to step into the light because that means they are open and
vulnerable to scrutiny and racism, and it might be too much for them, causing the band to

The Blues, A Genre Of Music
Does one have to be black and from the south to play the blues?
The blues, a genre of music so well known and so universal, that one knows is associated with black
culture; and forever connected to it. However, some may argue that not anyone can play the blues
and blues is only black music. That being said, does it matter what the skin color of an individual
may be to play the blues? In contrast I strongly believe anyone can play the blues because music is
the purest form of creativity and communication.
The reality is that today it is seen it all over, countless of people from many parts of the globe
perform this genre of music known as The Blues. It is played by the millions and by many different
races some of which are not from the south; but is it wrong for them to play it? Certain individuals
may believe that playing the blues, one has to be black to even be considered. There is an individual
who argues that one needs to really have The Blues to play them and it is only black music. (Harris,
2015 n.p) On the other hand I would consider that the culture or race of the performer does not
matter. People from all races and backgrounds experience the blues, this genre of music has become
universal; it is a part of world music now. it is wonderful to think that a genre of music once viewed
as wrong or barbaric has become so well popularized and loved.
When one thinks of the blues one almost always pictures a lone black man in his guitar singing his
troubles away.

Blues Music Is Still Based On Emotional Pain
In the beginning of its existence, blues music was a way of expressing ones' feelings that they were
not allowed to speak about in mixed company. This was music that expressed from the heart and
soul of painful experiences that continued on throughout the course of living in a divided, unequal
society. Blues music is still based on emotional pain, still the most wonderful way to express tears
and heartache in a catchy sounding musical format. This is the music that touches people in a deeper
manner and helps appease the pain that one has endured. Every blues song produced is a symbol of
past experiences of the writer of the song and its' performer. This allows each song to be uniquely
impactful. Many blues songs used racial inequality as a common theme because many black
Americans were suffering from this in their daily lives. The following songs were structured to help
raise support to put an end to the racial inequality that occurred. First, we talk about James Brown's
"Say it Loud ( I'm Black and I'm Proud)". As the title suggests, this song is about black pride. Brown
was a leader in the black community, and encouraged his people to stand up for their rights. The 60's
were a tumultuous time for race relations in America, and this song became an anthem for the black
power movement. I feel this song is a representation of blues music because James Brown uses this
song for a more than just entertainment. He uses it as an inspiration to help black Americans to rise
out of

Blues Music In Sterling Brown's Ma Rainey
In Sterling Brown's "Ma Rainey," Brown describes the significance of blues music in rural black
culture. Using dialect and rhythm, Brown manages to show the way blues music reaches its intended
audience without breaking from the language said audience would use to describe this. In this way,
Brown creates a poem which does not simply describe its subject, but celebrates it fully, and
associates itself not with white literature describing black Americans but with what could be called
black American literature. Brown's poem is in exactly the style Langston Hughes advocates for in
"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain;" praising rather than neglecting black American culture,
using aspects which may be considered oddities in comparison to "Nordic" ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The blues singer in "Ma Rainey" has an almost mystical quality to her as she manages to soothe
everyone for "miles aroun'"(Brown, Stanza I, line 4) with her songs. Hughes mentions the richness
jazz and blues add to lower–class black culture, and how the middle and upper class black
Americans tend to turn away from blues as a signifier of the race they wish to leave behind. Brown
celebrates blues as a way of connecting people, and of giving them something to hold onto as they
battle the hardships associated with not being white in America. While those who wish to be white
spurn blues music as "too black," Brown proves in his poem that blues is an essential way of
bringing people together. He paints a picture of its immense impact when he describes the listeners
crying together as Ma Rainey sings. This, in turn, serves as a call to other black artists to stop trying
to break away from their race, as it invokes a sense of belonging. All the people who come watch
Ma Rainey sing belong to a community of rural black Americans, and from this community they do
face adversity, yet scenes like the one described in "Ma Rainey" show that there is also a positive
takeaway from being a part of it. In the earlier–mentioned segment from the third stanza, Brown's
use of direct address sets up Ma Rainey as an omniscient, almost godlike figure. The speaker, and
presumably the reader included in the speaker's "us," can look to her for solace amidst their struggle.
Brown implies that those who look to their own culture may find meaning in it, which speaks to
Hughes invocation for artists to "Let the blare of Negro jazz bands and the bellowing voice of
Bessie Smith singing the Blues penetrate the closed ears of the colored near intellectuals until they
listen and perhaps understand,"

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