Comments on: What is a good book that traces the history of the American Blues?

By: martin couch

martin couch — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:27:52 +0000

I don’t know of any book that covers the scope you listed. There are several great books that cover the development and popularization of the blues though. Two have already been listed by others- Le Roi Jones’ Blues People, and Robert Palmer’s Deep Blues. A couple others- Samuel Charter’s The Story Of The Blues, Robert Sheldon’s Blues Who’s Who (actually an encyclopedia but incredible nonetheless) and finally, Alan Lomax’s The Land Where The Blues Began. I reluctantly recommend the last book, not because of the book itself (which is fine), but because of the Lomax family’s history of ripping off many American musicians and songwriters.

By: dinodino

dinodino — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:53:45 +0000

Deep Blues: A Musical and Cultural History of the Mississippi Delta (Paperback) Robert Palmer

By: USA Is An Atheist Nation 92%er

USA Is An Atheist Nation 92%er — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:45:37 +0000

“Blues People” by LeRoi Jones (now known as Amira Baraka)

Peter Guralnik is another writer who has published extensively on African-American music.

By: pamzstew

pamzstew — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:55:00 +0000

The Devil’s Music by Giles Oakley and The American Blues Guitar by Rick Batey. and last The Blues Revolution. Sorry do not know the author at this time. They are all great books. Read them for music class.

By: capcajun

capcajun — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:54:59 +0000

Blues – Pictoral History of the Blues
DVD by Ken Burns and Marty Scorcessi The blues