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Overview

After the rise and disbandment of the original Jubilee Singers of Fisk University in 1878, many other copycat groups sprung up, using Fisk's business model for raising funds for Black universities. In 1904, Charles Williams from Holly Springs, Mississippi, formed the Williams Jubilee Singers, "The World's Greatest Harmonizing Octette." Previous jubilee companies had often had ten or a dozen members or an octet making a "double quartet." Still, the increasing tendency was to reduce the groups' size and feature, as did Williams, a popular quartet (or quartette) (Oliver 2012, n.p.). Publicity material for the Williams Jubilee Singers emphasized their musical training at universities and colleges as Rust, Drake, Livingston, and Oberlin. However, as more jubilee companies were formed trying to capitalize on the "Jubilee Singers" brand, it became common practice to emphasize the singers' formal training and musical credentials

Be ready to:

Describe the musical landscape in which blues-derived music developed.

Describe various aspects of the Jim Crow laws and their impact on African American society.

Describe the antecedent musical genres that impacted the development of the blues.

Define the term blues.

Explain why W.C. Handy is affectionately referred to as the "Father of the Blues."

Illustrate the textual and musical form-three-line structure-of the blues.

Name blues compositions/performers from the three broad stylistic categories-Country, Classic, and Urban blues-and their respective contributions.

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Conclusion

Blues music developed under the musical landscape of the Fisk Jubilee singers in the first decade of the twentieth century. However, several jubilee groups emerged in the smoothness of close harmony and the use of jazz rhythms. For the purposes of this course, the definition of blues is an African American song form based on a poetic musical structure whose lyrics deal with the reality of life experiences. Blues music originated from Slave songs in the South and became influential in the development of jazz, rhythm and blues, rock, and country music throughout the United States.

The three broad styles of blues are Country, Classic, and Urban. Each style has influential performers including, but not limited to, Charles Patton, Son House, and Robert Johnson (Country); Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith (Classical); and Muddy Waters (Urban). William Christopher (W.C.) Handy (musician, songwriter, composer, folklorist) is known as the "Father of the Blues" because of the number of contributions he had in popularizing blues music.

US postage stamp: 6-cent stamp honoring W. C. Handy. It was issued on May 17, 1969

Sidney Bechet

The blues like spirituals were prayers. One was praying to God; the other was praying to man.

Sterling Brown

You can't play the blues until you have paid your dues