Blues Singers

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

Table of Contents



Introduction     



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