BluesTrotter.com

The Emergence of the Blues
The blues was first sung by men at leisure and was called the folk blues. W.C. Handy, a composer, musician, and bandleader of the Mahara Minstrels, came across the blues in a Tutwiler, Mississippi train station in 1903. According to Handy, while he was waiting for the train he heard the unforgettable sound of a man running a knife against the strings of his guitar while he sang, “Goin’ where the Southern cross the Dog.” Handy was struck by the music, and never forgot it. Not long after, in 1912 Handy published “Memphis Blues,” making him the third person in a few months to publish a song with the name “blues.”

The first recording of the blues was in 1895. George W. Johnson’s “Laughing Song” was the first blues song recorded. Thereafter, blues songs began to appear in music rolls. The 1906 series of Music for the Aedian Grand, listed one blues title among the forty-nine music rolls.

The Rising Popularity of the Blues
As folk singers migrated north in the early 20th century, they brought the blues with them. Joining them from New Orleans were “black-butt” pianists who played in honky-tonks; Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas gave way to the “Fast Western” pianists who sang as they played, imitating the sounds of southern guitarists. Country singers joined the New Orleans and “Fast Western” pianists’ migration, and brought their style to Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and New York, where the classic blues singers united with these musicians and introduced their blues style in clubs, theaters, and dance halls. Classic blues singers brought a professional quality to it, and constructed the foundation for the classic blues.

The Classic Blues Era
The classic blues style, the style that was popularized by female singers, was popular among newly arrived blacks in the cities. The migration of many blacks to the cities gave them a new freedom from the church and community that had not been experienced in rural areas. Blacks demanded entertainment, and black theaters, dance halls, and clubs were opened. Women stopped singing in their churches and schools, and began to perform in theaters, clubs, dance halls, and vaudeville shows.

The blues entered the forefront in 1920, when Mamie Smith’s recording of “Crazy Blues” became popular and opened the doors to other classic blues singers. The record was priced at one dollar and sold 75,000 copies the first month of release.

The market for the recorded blues was almost entirely black during the 1920s and 1930s, and the records became known as “race records.” Record companies advertised exclusively to blacks and only black stores sold the records. As a result of Smith’s success, record companies seized the opportunity to make a profit in the new market. Companies searched for talented blues artists; classic blues singers such as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Alberta Hunter, and Ethel Waters became popular blues artists.

The Rise of the Country Blues
The popularity of the classic blues, however, began to decline. At the same time, male blues singers were on the rise. Record companies, such as Columbia, Paramount, and Okeh, made field trips into the South in search of talented blues singers. Record representatives recorded artists either with their mobile recording unit or arranged for them to travel north to Chicago or New York to record.

The rise of the country blues was marked by the recordings of Blind Lemon Jefferson in early 1926. It was his May release of “Long Lonesome Blues” that set the stage for a new era of the blues. This time it was marked by male singers, including Blind Willie McTell, Barbecue Bob, and Charley Patton.

The Blues Hiatus & Its Revival
When the Depression hit the U.S. in 1929, many blues singers found it difficult to make a living. Record sales slumped and record companies tapered back on recording the blues. Nevertheless, the early blues was instrumental in influencing later blues singers like Muddy Waters. During the 1960s, white musicians from the U.S. and England discovered the old recordings of the early bluesmen and this lead the way to a blues revival. Today, the blues is recognized for its influence on other genres of music, such as rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and rap.

A large number of American homes have a pool in their backyard. In fact, so many homeowners do that it is likely that you are one of them. When it comes to owning a pool, there are many families who do not purchase additional pool accessories. While there may be money saving benefits to this, you may also find benefits to stocking your pool and your home with pool accessories.

When it comes to pool accessories, there are many individuals who automatically think of pool toys or pool hardware. While these types of items are considered pool accessories, they are not the only thing that is. Did you know that a pool house can also be considered a pool accessory? Whether you own a pool or are thinking about owning one, you need to yourself an important question. That question is whether or not you need a pool house.

When it comes to owning a pool house, there are many individuals who automatically say no. To many, a pool house is just considered an extra cost. The truth is that, even though you may not think that you need a pool house, you actually may. Before you can determine whether or not your home or pool can benefit from a pool house, you will need to examine what they are.

Pool houses come in all different shapes, sizes, designs and styles. This is something that many individuals are largely unaware of. The term house often leads to the misassumption that pool houses are large and expensive. As previously mentioned, pool houses come in all different shapes and sizes. This means that you can purchase a pool house as large or as small as you would like it to be.

In addition to the size of a pool house, there is also a misconception on how they are made. Many individuals think that a pool house must be constructed right on their property; thus, the expensive cost. While it is true that you can have a contractor build you a custom-made pool house, it is not your only option. In fact, a large number of retailers, both on and offline, specialize in selling pre-made pool houses. With a pre-made pool house, you will just select the model that you would like to purchase and then the pool house should be delivered directly to your home, often in one or two pieces.

Now that you are aware of what pool houses are and how they can be purchased, you may want to further examine their uses. After examining the many uses of a pool house, you will want to compare it to your wants or your needs. This may enable you to determine whether or not you can benefit from having a pool house installed on your property.

Perhaps, the most common use of a pool house is to enable swimmers to change in and out of their swimming clothes. With many pool owners, maybe even yourself, their number one complaint is dripping clothes and wet children throughout the house. Having a pool house on your property will prevent wet clothing and swimmers from entering your home.

Pool houses are also used to store other swim accessories. These accessories may include, but should not be limited to, pool cleaning supplies, water toys, lifesaving devices, poolside furniture, and much more. A pool house will not only give you a safe place to store your potentially expensive pool supplies, but it may also help to improve the appearance of your backyard. With these items put away, you will find that both your pool and your backyard tends to look more inviting,

If you have not yet thought about purchasing a pool house to accompany your pool, you may want to give it some though. Not only can you obtain a pool house that matches the exterior design of your home, but you can also add electricity and running water, if you choose to. When it comes to purchasing this popular pool accessory, you literally have an unlimited number of options.

Have you ever played one too many computer game or watched one too many old rerun? You just can’t get into another mystery and you just feel flat? Maybe you are suffering from boredom, that familiar accomaniment to our automated, precooked lifestyles. If so, you need to check out these hobby ideas. Hobbies have been found to be therapeutic as they relieve stress and get the mind active. In this article, you’ll find hobby ideas for every sort of person, from the intellectual to the athlete, from the homemaker to the attorney.

Many times we are bored because we have become too inactive. If this is your problem, you might like a sports hobby. Have you ever tried tennis? How about golf? Many people simply love bowling until it becomes an important part of their lives. Sports hobbies get you out of the house and often are a way to make friends with others. Then again, some active hobbies can be enjoyed in our own homes, such as weight lifting and doing aerobic dance to a video.

Speaking of aerobic dance, dancing is another great pastime. When you think of hobby ideas, don’t forget the many forms of dance. Square dancing is fun for people who like getting together with groups, while ballet and modern dance appeal to the more contemplative souls. And while we’re on contemplation, you might enjoy doing yoga stretches as a hobby.

Maybe we’re feeling bored and listless because we’ve been cooped up in the house too long. If that’s the problem, here are a few hobby ideas to get you out in the fresh air. Have you ever thought of taking up canoeing, hiking, or trapping? How about getting involved with an environmental group? In many states, you can form groups to clean riverbanks and monitor water quality, and the state will provide perks such as t-shirts, work gloves, and first-aid kits. Or maybe you’d like studying the flora and fauna of your region. It can be great fun to stroll through the woods and fields with a field guide, learning to identify each wildflower, insect, tree, and bird.

There are almost as many hobby ideas as there are bored people in the world, because everyone puts their own spin on their favorite hobbies. Maybe you’d enjoy decorating your house with antiques, or learning to bake specialty breads from around the World. Maybe you’d like to take part in a little theatre production, or learn to play guitar. What about the fine arts of weaving tapestries or painting with oils? Candle making, soap making, and many other old-time crafts are being enjoyed again. Truly, with all these hobby ideas, there is no reason to stay bored for long!

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