I used to hate "The Blues' - then I heard Lightning Hopkins

[Taverner]

Now I realize, this man was a genius

Leadbelly, Lightning Hopkins, John Lee Hooker - the GOOD blues!

[BrendaBrick]

1. Yup.

The blues are really the origins for so many other genres which have spurred from that great, initial, musical *tap-root.* To be sure!

Raw music it was and still is, yet sadly, not many of these ground-breaking artists were given their rightful due, not only in pop-culture popularity, but also monetarily as more often than not, some were either sold for a grossly low amount of money (if any at all) and/or, were/are relegated under the blanket, non-copyright "traditional" category...to which they STILL receive no proceeds.

I think that Bonnie Raitt (spelling) has gone back to try and give back to some of these major artists the recognition and monetary rewards rightfully due them, many of which still live in poverty today (the ones that are still living, at least) to try and make it right.

Big, huge successful *Rock and Roll* bands such as the Stones, Zeppelin, Clapton etc (to name but just a few) owe their success to these American pioneers for laying the groundwork.

Though, much to his credit, Ray Charles has been the exception to this rule. Shrewd as he was, he insisted on owning ALL THE RIGHTS to his songs, which at the time, was unheard of...and set a very important precedent.

[Gold Metal Flake]

2. Lightning Hopkins is one of my two favorites.

The other is Mississippi Fred McDowell.

[snagglepuss]

3. Every Sat night from 8 to 12 you can stream a fantastic Blues program at

http://www.jazz.fm/ Very few commercials as it is mostly listener supported.

[Ohio Joe]

4. Some good bands

Hoo Doo Soul Band - Best seen live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od8esO4WVnU

Willie Pooch - Drink with the man!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7jarw-o12E&feature=related

Shaun Booker - Sexy as hell and one of the best voices I've ever heard live. I've danced with her while she was singing :D

http://www.myspace.com/shaunbooker

[Tikki]

5. Can I ask...How many more years I got to let you dog me around?...

..well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeZ4_Ccs0Io


Tikki

[Taverner]

10. :)

[retread]

6. Nice thread. Brings back memories of listening to WLAC on a transistor AM radio late at night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtvL5_6BFd8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2UU7wOoOHM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9YTlMs4NlI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QizibCwMM1A&feature=related

[panader0]

7. One of our ex-DUers (TominTib) used to play with Sam (Lightning) Hopkins

[Flaxbee]

8. You probably don't like B.B. King if you used to hate "the blues"

BUT - Blues Summit, where he duets with many legends, including John Lee Hooker and Albert Collins is great.

However, his duets with the blues women - Ruth Brown, Koko Taylor, Etta James - hot damn, those women were FANTASTIC. And the interplay between BB and his singing partners is really fun.

[Taverner]

9. My main complaint with the Blues is its repitition

Same song, different beat and lyrics, EVERY TIME

Blues is great, for about five minutes

BB King was no different...

But yeah sounds good...

[kwassa]

11. Same chord changes typify the blues. C, F, G.

and much of rock, which is derived from blues. Same chord changes.

My favorite blues singer is Howlin' Wolf. Nobody else comes close. He defines the blues, to me.

Best blues artist ever is probably Muddy Waters. Both are from the Chicago blues scene. Many blues standards were written by blues bassman Willie Dixon.

I also like Elmore James, king of the slide guitar. T-Bone Walker. Little Walter. Sonny Boy Williamson.

[McCamy Taylor]

17. B.B. King is GREAT in concert. So cute even though he is old as time. Very charismatic.

[Flaxbee]

20. yes he is! I saw him at The Blue Note in NY in 1998 - he and his band

blew the roof off; damn, they were incredible. I took someone with me who didn't think he liked the blues -- after the first few notes when the band let loose, he was hooked.

Also helped that Maya Angelou and Morgan Freeman were at the club; my friend was impressed :D

[hobbit709]

12. Henry Thomas, Son House, Ma Rainey, Memphis Minnie

Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Mance Lipscomb, and many more.
I got about 20 Gb of blues on my hard drive. Recordings from back in the early 20's on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co-lFidsM6Q

[BrendaBrick]

13. For me...one of the best recordings EVER is...

an album featuring 2 greats coming together: Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy: The two masters!!!!

Saint Louis Blues.

Velma Middleton also adds something else...great!

Ummph. Umm. Umm. Umm!

Yup...and...oh my!

Listen and enjoy and I tell ya....if you don't just feel like going out and tackling this world come 'round about the high notes belting out right there towards the end...well, you just better check your fricking pulse!

Dang skippy!

Never, EVER under estimate the pure POWER of music to transform the human soul!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2TUlUwa3_o

[givemebackmycountry]

14. Junior Kimbrough "God knows I've tried"

Almost hypnotic in it's simplicity.

[RedCloud]

15. Wait 'til you see T.J. Oshie.

[McCamy Taylor]

16. Love me some blues. Albert King is my favorite. Saw him in NO years ago. Was a mystical experience.

I believe I saw Lightning Hopkins in Houston years ago, too. My mom likes the Blues and she took me to see someone who sure looked and sounded like him, but I was too young to catch the name. Other great shows---B.B. King, Buddy Guy. And I got to see Stevie Ray shortly before he died when he sat in with Oregon at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth.

John Lee Hooker and Leadbelly are two of my favorites. And don't forget Bessie Smith.

[Leonardo Da Biker]

18. You should check out the recordings

made by the library of congress back in the 1930's of the delta blues players. The guy they sent out there with primitive recording equipment took along his own Martin accoustic guitar because so many of the rural players did not have their own guitar. He let them play his. These recordings were made right on location usually right out on the dfront porch wherever he found these bluesmen throughout the delta region. Good stuff.

[ellaydubya]

19. Tomintib introduced me to Lightnin' Hopkins

before one of Hopkin's shows in Houston- I had listened to his albums (thanks to Tom) but was not prepared for the awesome, blow your mind evening of blues- the REAL blues and it changed the way I thought about music from that moment on. Oh, yeah, and I got to drink a beer with the man!!!!! I also saw John Lee Hooker at the same place, different shows. I love some roll with my rock!