The Blues - is it Doomed?
Great blues artists like BB King are still going strong. Just as the music itself, like that of Robert Johnson.
And although not as well known to the general public as the legends of the music, other artists have stepped in to keep the music alive. Western New York native "Smokin'" Joe Bonamassa, the St. Louis native Jim Byrnes, and action movie star Steven Seagal are three such artists.
Smokin' Joe grew up in a house full of guitars. He has been playing music nearly all his life. Bonamassa has released two albums in the past several months. "Sloe Gin" was released late in 2007 and "Shepherds Bush" in January of 2008.
Bonamassa's shows are filled with enthusiastic crowds and filled houses.
Jim Byrnes may be known more for his television appearances as an actor - Highlander and Wiseguy - but he is also an accomplished and award winning guitarist, singer, and composer. Byrnes makes his home in Western Canada where he has won numerous awards for his blues guitar.
Known more for the flying fury of his hands and feet Akido master Steven Seagal is also an accomplished blues man. Fans of the action star first got a glimpse of his musical ability in the movie Fire Down Below. Since then the actor has written music for some of his films and has released two albums "Songs from the Crystal Cave' and "Mojo Priest". Seagal's musical talents as a blues musician are known more in Europe than in the United States.
And while they do not play straight up blues many artists incorporate the blues into their music. Eric "Slow Hand" Clapton and even Brian Setzer are two such artists.
In the early days of rock, the blues played a big role in the music. Today it has become a trend to mix a number of varied musical styles together as bands and artists are looking to find that unique sound that they can call their own.
Just as classical music has found its way into everyday music so has the blues. It is not dead merely buried among the rubble that is today's musical mix.
Published by Sherrill Fulghum
Sherrill has been writing for over 20 years and currently has over 2,500 pieces of work published; she has also co-authored a book. Besides AC currently her work can be found at Sydney Unleashed, All Voices,... View profile
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2 Comments
Post a CommentThe Blues are far from dead. In fact, this genre doesn't need, as is often suggested in its unifying battle cry, "Keeping the Blues Alive," an artificial lifeline. This genre is alive, well and vital, and only needs to be acknowledge by the mainstream media to realize what a refreshing change it is from popular music.
Be advised: If you bought the notion that this music is depressing, you have been sold a bill of goods. Why it attracts such a worldwide contigent of followers is this music is a remedy to ills that affect you.
That's a nice piece about the blues. I just wrote one on Miles Davisa few days ago for AC. I'll have to stop back and see what else you have to say.