Blind Lemon Jefferson, one of the most influential and prolific of the early blues giants, left a massive recorded legacy of lyrics that became permanent elements of the blues lexicon. One of the most enduring [...]

One of the records that helped define the burgeoning postwar West Coast style of smooth “lounge blues,” “Drifting Blues” stayed on the Billboard “Race Records” chart in 1946. Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers consisted of Moore [...]

Back-Water Blues' was one of the best known works of the Empress of the Blues, Bessie Smith, recorded for Columbia Records in 1927 with James P. Johnson on piano. Bemoaning the fate of losing a [...]

Dozens of artists have recorded the blues standard 'Key to the Highway,' and although Big Bill Broonzy was not the first, he was among the earliest to popularize the song, and has been credited as [...]

No Chicago blues artist had more success than Jimmy Reed at churning out hits, even crossing over to the pop charts 11 times. Reed's unique, lazy loping style of vocals, guitar and harmonica would go [...]