The Blues — Robert Jones

This video opens with a performance of Muddy Waters’ “Sail On Blues,” a Chicago-style electric, slide guitar blues tune. This video showcases numerous, fabulous film clips of various blues artists prominent during the first half of the 20th century and styles of blues they played on both acoustic and electric instruments. Among these artists is Sugar Chile Robinson, a 6-year-old piano prodigy that students will delight in hearing. Through these artists, you are provided an abbreviated timeline of the development of blues music that shows the racial and cultural diversity in blues history. The video's objective is to understand the evolution of blues music, its effect on American music, and the key players involved in this process. You will see how technological changes, such as electric instruments, changed blues' sound and, therefore, American music.