ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we will trace the many threads that came together from the early 1940s through 1960 in black popular music to influence the growth of the blues. We will begin in Chicago, to where many blacks emigrated from the Mississippi Delta during the
Depression, in search of employment and better living standards. We will then look at the post-World War II rise of rhythm and blues (R&B), and the many small record labels that helped foster its popularity. We will profile three electric blues stars who enjoyed initial success in the R&B charts, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, and Muddy Waters. We will look at several regional blues scenes in the 1950s, beginning again with Chicago, then moving to Los Angeles, New York, and New Orleans. Finally, we will look at how early rock was influenced by blues and R&B music.
