Chicago Blues Style
Notable Artists include Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Big Boy Crudup, Buddy Guy
Back to the Blues StylesSymbolically, the Chicago Blues sound started when Muddy Waters stepped off of the train from the Clarksdale, Mississippi into Chicago, Illinois. He was a part of the great migration, where countless thousands of poor, mostly black residents of the south escaped brutal, caste-like systems, oppression, and racism to seek industrial jobs, more equality and a better way of life in the north. Many blacks found themselves on Chicago's Southside, where the music of the Delta blues took on an electrified sound. Music quickly thrived, bringing rise to places like the famous Maxwell Street, dozens of popular Blues clubs, and people playing on streetcorners across the city. Musicians plugged in their guitars, amplified their voices, and brought in more instruments and accompaniments like bass, harmonica, drums, and even horn instruments. The founders and pioneers of the spine-tingling Chicago sound are some of the biggest names in Blues history: Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, Little Walter, and a whole handful of other greats. These Blues champions, and much of what can be defined as the classic Chicago Blues sound, came from 2120 South Michigan Ave, the home of Chess Records, arguably the greatest Blues label of all time. Chicago blues even played a pivotal role in pioneering Rock & Roll, (much of it at Chess), recording such Rock greats as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, and even The Rolling Stones.
Chicago Blues from the blues music section
Vital Contemporary Listening
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Vital Classic Listening
Martin Scorsese Presents: Muddy Waters
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Muddy Waters
