IF you ever read a book on The Blues-
this is the book to read. From Pre-
History to the mid 90's the Blues
are covered.

ROCK and roll fans as well as R&B
lovers will find their roots here too.
The short essays on Blues performers
are indeed a vital contribution to
black history. The reader may find 
that a lot of popular music myth
started with the Blues.

COULD it be that in 1923 a rather
ugly but extremely popular female
blues singer set the standard for
every POP-ROCK performance that
followed? Ma Rainey was her name
and for her day she incorperated
elaborate set designs, outrageous
costumes with her soul shaking
vocals delivered with spirited
struts and sashays! Shades of Elton
John!

JUST who came up with the idea of
selling ones' self to the devil for
musical success and popularity?
Was it Robert Johnson?
(Johnson's songs and lyrics covered
by groups like the Stones and Led
ZEP.) Or was it something already
entrenched in black mythology of
his times.

THE author, Davis, makes a strong
case that those famous Robert Johnson
tunes were borrowed, adapted or 
influenced by previous black bluesmen.
"Crossroads Blues" he believes was taken
from Charlie Patton's 1929 song
"Down The Dirt Road Blues."

IF Rock's British invasion was steeped in
American Black Blues - Was the Folk 
movement inspired by LEDBELLY?
Davis makes the case.

INDEED it was BOB DYLAN'S HWY 61
that Bessie Smith died on under mysterious
circumstances!

MY favorite story from THE HISTORY OF
THE BLUES is one of Canned Heat's 
founder "Blind Owl" Wilson (he wasn't
blind that was kind of a tribute to all
the Blind boy black bluesmen like
Blind Lemon Jefferson but he was the high
range vocal on "Going Up The Country" and
"On The Road Again.") rediscovering Blues
pioneer SON HOUSE who had'nt played in
years. Here the white boy, Wilson, re teaches
Son House how he played his own songs long
ago.

ALSO fascinating is the story of the interplay
between Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and
Howlin' Wolf. It was Dixon who wrote
"Hoochie Coochie Man", "Spoonful," "Backdoor
Man," and "Walking The Dog."

I found The History Of The Blues great
bedside reading - You may too!
Rock On Boomers!