MUSA1300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Cross Road Blues, Sara Carter, Autoharp
11 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
No country blues artist had a greater influence on later generation of blues and rock musicians. Robert johnson"s brief life is shrouded in mystery and legend. Stories circulated claiming johnson had sold his soul to the devil. Only 11 records (22 songs) were released by johnson during his lifetime. Aggressive, rapid strumming of chords gives his work a flavor that anticipates the electric guitar styles of rock music. Makes use of the bottleneck technique, common among mississippi delta blues guitarists. Uses words to evoke an emotional and spiritual condition, in this instance a condition of harrowing. Later rechristened country and western music or simply country music . The first southern musicians to be commercially recorded grew up under the influence of minstrelsy, vaudeville, circuses and the medicine show. The first generation of hillbilly recording artists was also familiar with the sentimental songs of tin. Pan alley, and this material became an important part of the country music repertoire.
