February is Black History Month, and what better time to talk about the origins of the blues than discussing where they came from. I expect every true blues fan to be celebrating this special month.
Here are a couple of our favorite blues performers/historians talking about the Roots of the Blues” that we pulled off of Facebook from Mick Kolassa and Dan Treanor
“Although Blues music contains elements of Celtic and other musical forms and traditions, it was the African American Experience that created and refined the blues. To love blues is to understand where it came from, and blues must be true to its roots!” Memphis Blues Man - Mick Kolassa
The Blues has its origins in the Delta, not the Mississippi Delta, the Niger Delta. The 'Blues' was based on the tradition of 'African Ring Singing'. West African tribal culture had no written language. It's history, lore, praise singing and gossip was passed on in generational knowledge through words and music. Within most West African tribes there was a caste of 'praise singers', that came to be known as 'Griots'. It was their responsibility to create the story songs and share them with tribal royalty as well as the people of the tribe. They would do it by engaging in "ring singing”. They would gather the people around them in a large circle and position themselves in the center. They would begin to sing out the story song to the people. In turn, the people would repeat the phrases back to the 'Griot'. Call and response, the basis of all 'Blues'. Many times the 'Griot' would accompany himself on a "Khalam", N'goni or Uwakawaona - all various types of string instruments. Drums were not usually part of the 'Ring Singing' experience, although they did play an integral part in West African culture. The "Kora" - the African harp - was used strictly at tribal courts to praise royalty. Kora players were held in high esteem and they had to be born into a 'Kora caste family'. 'Jujumen' were musicians who played primarily for the common people. Their music evolved into the modern version of "Afro Juju Music", very popular in wide areas of Africa today. All of these traditions were brought to this country through the evil practice of slavery. The earliest form of American Blues can be found in 'Field Hollars' or 'Work Songs'. All of it based on story telling and 'call and response'. West African music was not based on a pentatonic scale. The 'Khalam' is traditionally tuned to a Major open chord - DADDAD. The influence of 'Celtic' music (based on a pentatonic scale), brought here by early immigrants from Western Europe made it's way into the hands and minds of these West African musicians. Coupled with their exposure to Western European instruments, the Blues as we know it was born. All popular forms of American Music has it's origins in the 'Blues'. The "Blues' did come from Africa.” Bluesman/Historian/Educator - Dan Treanor