Mississippi Delta Blues Music Analysis

Superior Essays
The Man and His Music
Out of all the styles of blues genre, the most influential was the Mississippi Delta blues, also known as the Delta blues. It originated in the Mississippi Delta. This style of blues was recorded from the 1920’s through the late 1930’s. The Delta blues goes way back in American history. But it is mostly referring back to the African-American history. There is not one specific person who invented the blues, African Americans were the ones who started it all. But they mostly ex-slaves, slaves who were plantation workers, and the children of those who were slaves. They would sing as they worked on the fields picking cotton, or vegetables. Most of them became great guitarists and singers. There were many Delta blues musicians, some of which were Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, Son House, and Robert Johnson. But the one that is the most well-known is Robert Johnson. Although he was considered to be the most famous of all the blues artists., his music was known years after for his incredible singing and guitar skills. It was Robert Johnsons double sounding guitar skills, his very powerful voice that held a lot of emotion, and
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They were more than just words and he made them have meaning. His lyrics were also clear and simple. But, “[it] is inevitable that each song will mean something different to each listener” (Brown). His lyrics were rich. They were full of emotion and feelings. He wrote about things he believed which is why they came out to be powerful. “‘[it] is always possible, of course, that some of Johnson’s life experiences did filter into his lyrics”’(Gioia). What researchers find curious about him is how he never confirmed or denied his myth. It gave a more mysterious tone when he began to release songs that had to do with hellhounds, and actually selling his soul in a crossroads. Those lyrics gave more light to the myth of him selling his

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