Welcome to my Blues section, here you will find various information on the Blues, a couple of RealAudio clips, and some fantastic links to other Blues sites out there in web-land.� My appreciation for the Blues started when I was very young, my father played piano and I would always ask him to play "boogie-woogie".� Little did I know, that the so called "boogie-woogie" was actually some up-tempo blues number full of great little riffs and fill-ins.� My appreciation of Blues grew to include Ragtime (piano is my fav'), Zydeco, and yes even some (gulp) Country music (believe it or not is a close relative of the Blues - and has been referred to sometimes as the "white man's blues").� As I aged, learned about music, and grew to appreciate the Blues, I was amazed to see how many established acts out there had Blues roots.� It seems that it all started with the Soul type Gospel music way back in the slavery days, and slowly branched out to touch nearly all forms of music we currently have today.� Robert Johnson was one of the earliest recorded blues players, recorded a limited number of Blues tunes with his slide guitar before his premature death in the 30's.� The whole legend of the "Crossroads" surrounds Robert Johnson's legacy, apparently Robert sold his soul to the devil in exchange for fame/fortune.
Many of the established performers throughout the years have had deep Blues influences - The 'Stones, Hendrix, Zepplin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Stevie Ray Vaughan.....the list goes on and on.� Blues has had different genres throughout its evolution, mainly the deep rooted "Delta" Blues, "Mississippi" Blues, and "Chicago" Blues.� All are different styles, but share the same deep roots.� I find it interesting to compare the style of Robert Johnson to Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins, Eric Clapton....etc.....it all sounds different, yet in a way sounds somewhat the same, and shares the same roots.� You can still hear Blues influences in much of today's music, and with the resurgence of Blues about 10 years ago, you can find more clubs (up here anyway) where live Blues is performed.
Almost any appreciative Blues listener you talk to holds a special respect for the Blues and its history.� The Blues is something that can be very hard to put into words, it's more like something you FEEL, or experience. The Blues styles are very different, yet very simular - the Blues is good, the Blues is bad, the Blues is happy(?), the Blues is sad, the Blues is very emotional and at the same time is very cold (yeah, ya had some hard luck pal, you're not the only one - so get over it). The Blues is real, the Blues is a feeling - its deep roots are firmly planted in your soul. The Blues is experience, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, sometimes arrogant, sometimes humble, compassionate, sometimes kind, sometimes harshly biting. I can't choose a correct group of words to explain the Blues and what it means to me, but to borrow a fantastic phrase "If I had to explain......you wouldn't understand".� Some people don't like the Blues because it brings them down or makes them feel sad - Blues has the opposite effect on me, when I hear it, no matter what kind of mood I'm in, it always brings me up, stirs that special feeling inside - it kinda makes ya feel good.� I suppose it's part of the process of understanding the Blues, which is an on-going process that will last my lifetime.� 'Nuff about all the techy words and stuff, plain and simple.....I JUST LIKE THE BLUES 'CUZ I DO.........'nuff said.
I love all styles of Blues music....old, newer, instrumental, you name it.� For some reason I really enjoy hearing blues with piano, saxophone, and slide guitar.� One of my all-time Blues weaknesses has to be good slide guitar.� There's somethin' about hearin' a good slide player that just kinda gets me.� A good slide player seems to make the thang moan, whine, and scream (but all in a good way of course).� It's kinda like they can make 'em talk to ya, either that or i'm goin' kinda nuts 'cuz I can hear what it's saying....hehehe.� If your ears are feelin' up to hearin' a bit of the slide, just click HERE (click the stop button on the MIDI player at the bottom of the screen first though - D'OH!), this is me playin' some slide on a Strat (it's done in RealAudio format).� The tune is kinda my rendition of "Feeling Bad Blues" done by Ry Cooder on the soundtrack to the movie "Crossroads".
Please check out my Blues links,
and make sure you check out the RealAudio files I have here (I plan to
add more as my limited time permits).� Make DARN SURE you check out
my li'l section on Dan Silljer, he's a local Blues musician and singer,
remember that name 'cuz you're gonna be hearing ALOT about this guy in
the future.� I have some AWESOME RealAudio stuff of Dan's playing, don't pass
it up.� I also plan to have some more Blues and Ragtime MIDI files
here in the future, please feel free to help yourself to them.� I shall update
this page, and the links on a regular basis (hopefully).� Thanks for taking the time to stop by......check
back soon to see the changes.
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Or you can download my slide RealAudio file to your computer (122kb)
Check
out Dan Silljer - a FINE Blues guitar player and singer (with AWESOME RealAudio clips)
Check out my Blues Links Page (Blues stuff and performers)
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