. . . when there was no other means of communicating our history, our experiences, our faith, and our pain. W.C. Handy did not begin to pen those monotonous sounds until about 1911, and John and Alan Lomax did not create their first field recordings until 20 years later. Despite their landmark contributions, we have surely lost to the ages the earliest and most significant origins of the music we love today.
The technology of our time, however remarkable, cannot resurrect or even simulate that which we'll never know. But we can do this. The following essays represent the knowledge, experiences, and musings of several writers who in their own ways seek to chronicle today's remnants of the blues tradition. These works are used with permission of the authors, each of whom retain their respective copyrights. Please do not reproduce or distribute them without their knowledge and permission.
Journeys Of Discovery
The Delta Log: Our seven-day journey through the land where the blues
began. See more than 60 photos from New Orleans to Clarksdale.
The Great Norwegian US Blues Trip '95: Follow four Norwegian friends
as they live the blues from Texas to Chicago.
The Delta Log 1996: The Highway to Helena through Dr. King's Alabama,
up to Memphis, and down to Helena and the King Biscuit Blues Festival.
Sunflower Scrapbook '97: P.W. Fenton's photojournal of his visit to the
1997 Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Arne Brogger Remembers
The Memphis Blues Caravan: "You best not be doin' what I think you're doin'."
Furry Lewis: "Coming off stage, he would ask, 'Are they standin' up?"
Bukka White: "He threw his arms around Bukka. The audience erupted."
Joe Willie Wilkins and Houston Stackhouse: "Then Joe Willie said, 'Man,
isn't that a beautiful tune?"
Memphis Piano Red: "In 1980, I got a letter saying that Red was dead."
The Blues Comes To The BBC: "Who did he think he was talking to?
Cotton Eyed Joe?!"
Charles Sawyer Considers
The Legacy of B.B. King -- the complete version
The Legacy of B.B. King -- the abridged version
"B.B. King Der Legendare Konig Des Blues" -- author's note
And More Fine Essays
The Blues: Calling For A Response by Thomas "Tomcat" Colvin
A Brief History Of The Blues by Robert M. Baker
Byther Smith: Working Man's Blues by Niles Frantz
Can't Find No Heaven: The Mysteries Of Skip James by Matt R. Lohr
The Crossroads by Daniel Leary
Hangin' With Mr. Rhodes by Curtis Hewston
Johnson vs. Harris, et al. by the Supreme Court of Mississippi
led bucket o'blood by rachel s. hanks
The 1995 Chicago Blues Festival by Niles Frantz
The 1996 Chicago Blues Festival by Niles Frantz
Remembering Brownie by Nancy Eaton
Rural Blues by Ethan Crosby
W.C. Handy by Emily B. Ward
What Is Blues? by Edward Liu
