Blues Singers

David Dicaire is the author of numerous works about music history. He lives in Leamington, Ontario, Canada.

• Table of ContentsIntroduction      PART ONE: THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA BLUESMEN      Charley Patton (1891–1934): Pony Blues      Eddie “Son” House (1902–1988): Preachin’ the Blues      Skip James (1903–1969): I’m so Glad      Big Joe Williams (1903–1982): Poor Joe's Blues      Robert Johnson (1911–1938): At the Crossroads      Robert Jr. Lockwood (1915– ): The Master’s Apprentice      Johnny Shines (1915–1992): A Traveling Companion      John Lee Hooker (1917– ): Boogie Child      Albert King (1923–1992): Born Under a Blues Sign      B. B. King (1925– ): The Little Blues Boy      PART TWO: THE CHICAGO BLUES SCHOOL      Big Bill Broonzy (1893–1958): Key to the Highway      Tampa Red (1904–1981): The Guitar Wizard      John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson (1914–1948): The Bluebird Blues      Muddy Waters (1915V1983): Catfish Blues      Willie Dixon (1915–1992): The Background Man      Howlin' Wolf (1910–1976): Growlin’ the Blues      Elmore James (1918–1963): The Broomduster      Sonny Boy Williamson II (1910–1965): One Way Out Blues      Jimmy Reed (1925–1976): The Sweet Blues      Little Walter (1930–1968): The Mississippi Saxophone      Otis Spann (1930–1970): A Blues Story      Otis Rush (1934– ): Double Trouble Blues      Buddy Guy (1936– ): The First Time I Met the Blues      Magic Sam (1937–1969): West Side Blues      PART THREE: THE TEXAS BLUES TRADITION      Blind Lemon Jefferson (1897–1929): The Blues Comet      Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter (1889–1949): 'Lectric Chair Blues      Aaron T-Bone Walker (1910–1975): Stormy Monday Blues      Sam “Lightnin” Hopkins (1912–1985): Lightnin’ Strikes      Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown (1924– ): Gatemouth’s Blues      Albert Collins (1932–1993): The Iceman Cometh      Freddie King (1935–1976): A Link in the Chain      Johnny Copeland (1937–1997): The Fire Maker      PART FOUR: WOMEN OF THE BLUES      Ma Rainey (1886–1939): Mother of the Blues      Bessie Smith (1894–1939): Empress of the Blues      Ida Cox (1896–1967): Raisin’ Cain      Sippie Wallace (1898–1986): Special Delivery Blues      Victoria Spivey (1906–1976): Moanin’ the Blues      Willie Mae Thornton (1926–1984): Hound Dog Blues      Koko Taylor (1935– ): I Got What It Takes      Etta James (1938– ): The Messenger’s Voice      PART FIVE: BLUES OUTSIDE THE DELTA      Lonnie Johnson (1894–1970): Mr. Johnson’s Blues      Blind Willie McTell (1901–1959): Dean of Atlanta Blues      Pete Johnson (1904–1967): A Boogie-Woogie King      Roosevelt Sykes (1906–1984): The Honeydripper Blues      Blind Boy Fuller (1907–1941): Rattlesnakin’ Daddy Blues      Big Joe Turner (1911–1985): Shoutin’ the Blues      Sonny Terry (1911–1986) and Brownie McGhee (1915–1996): East Coast Blues Duo      Professor Longhair (1918–1980): New Orleans House Party      John Mayall (1934– ): The Blues Professor      Appendix: Recordings by Three or More Blues Singers      Selected Bibliography      Index

“extensive profiles...recommended”—Choice; “a good and interesting introduction to blues greats”—ARBA; “provides short biographies of fifty blues singers of the early 20th century, providing a reference volume for casual listeners and avid fans alike”—Midwest Book Review.