The Blues: A Visual History

According to this book, music lovers of all stripes should have a bit of the blues. Blues is a form of music that is a uniquely American creation, consisting of call-and-response singing brought by slaves from West Africa infused with elements from ragtime, European church music, and minstrel songs. This book traces blues music from its origins to its present form. Along the way, readers will learn how the blues has heavily influenced various music genres including country, folk, jazz, R&B, rock, and soul. The Blues is a “coffee-table” styled book that is suitable for both skimming and for those who want in-depth information. Readers who are fans of blues music will enjoy all the pictures inside as well as the biographical sketches of important artists who contributed to the development of this genre. Also included is a playlist of essential songs which will provide a better understanding of this style of music.