Electric Blues

In the early 1950 the blues took a turn. The Blues had gone from the countryside and the cotton fields to the urban communities. Not only did the blues change its locality but it took on a new form in doing so. The Blues tuned from acoustic instruments to electric instruments. With the guitar and the harmonica leading the way. The harmonica was now played through a microphone and an electric amplifier, the electric guitar was now used instead of an acoustic guitar and the bass guitar and drums were added to complete the new electric Blues Band. Cities such as Memphis, Chicago and St Louis were considered homes of the Blues. Not ever being able to read a music note, the only thing i can say musically is the Blues is 12 beats to the bar. That is what distinguishes it musically. The first harmonica player that played with a mic and amplifier was Little Walter. Other great musicians came to popluarity using this new electric format, the best i know of is the late great Muddy Waters from Issaquena County in the Mississippi Delta. One of the very first songs i ever learned to play was a Muddy Waters tune called Blow Wind Blow. Here is my band covering that tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzggCqp-0KU