Texas Blues Style
Notable artists include Stevie Ray Vaughan, T-Bone Walker, Blind Lemon Jefferson, ZZ Top, etc.
Back to the Blues Styles
Texas Blues has a long and interesting place in the Blues. It first gained
notoriey in the twentys with the massive popularity of Blind Lemon Jefferson, a Texas-born
Bluesman. The Texas style was more of what would be considered "country" today, with a
swing feel and, much like the Delta style, unaccompanied guitar playing. It was Blind Lemon
Jefferson's tireless traveling, particularly around the delta, that reportedly largely influenced
many delta bluesmen of the time. The "Texas blues" distinction was furthered by the
popularity of Big Mamma Thornton, who influenced countless artists across the country.
Texas genius Bluesman musician and Rock pioneer T-Bone Walker electrified the guitar in the
40s, paving the way for Chicago Blues and early Rock & Roll.
With the decline of the music industry during the Great Depression, along with other
contributing factors, including a lack of popular new talent, the Texas Blues style faced a
nearly four-decade lull. But in true-to-form
Texas style, musicians from the lonestar state came kicking, screaming, and playing back
with a massive vengance. Amazing Blues-Rock talent poured out of Texas, like Johnny Winter,
whose shredding, larger than life guitar skills were revered in the 60's. Other Texas-exported
Blues-Rock acts included the massively famous ZZ Top, and perhaps one of the Texas
Blues' greatest sons and it's brightest star: Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Vital Contemporary Listening
Try the following, available through our Amazon Store:
Texas Flood
(buy album)
(download album)
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Vital Classic Listening
Try the following, available through our Amazon Store:
The Very Best of T-Bone Walker
(buy album)
T-Bone Walker
