texas blues
Texas blues is a subgenre of the blues. It has had various style variations but typically has been played with more swing than other blues styles.
Texas blues began to appear in the early 1900s among African Americans who worked in oilfields, ranches and lumber camps. In the 1920s, Blind Lemon Jefferson innovated the style by using jazz-like improvisation and single string accompaniment on a guitar; Jefferson's influence defined the field and inspired later performers, like Lightnin' Hopkins and T-Bone Walker. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, many bluesmen moved to cities like Galveston, Houston and Dallas. It was from these cities that a new wave of popular performers appeared, including slide guitarist and gospel singer Blind Willie Johnson and legendary vocalist Big Mama Thornton. Duke Records and Peacock Records were the most important labels of the scene.
In the 1960s, however, the record industry moved north, reducing Texas' importance in the blues scene. The area's importance returned in the 1970s when a Texas blues rock sound developed, led by ZZ Top and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. This set the stage for the revival of the 1980s, which produced Stevie Ray Vaughan and moved Austin to being the blues capital of the state.
Performers
Albert Collins
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Lightnin' Hopkins
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Freddie King
Jimmie Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
T-Bone Walker
Tony Vega Band
Wes Jeans
Johnny Winter
Tracy Conover
ZZ Top
- MusicAustin: Spotlight on Austin Music - Spotlighting blues artists and bands from the Austin, Texas area with music clips and information.
- Viewpoint Records Home - Austin, Texas, USA cooperative label. Releases a wide variety of genres such as Classical, Jazz, Rock, and Blues. Artists include Ma Driver, Odd Man Out, and Rebecca Ryan. Catalog, reviews, and online store.
- Marcel Scherpenzeel Band - Live band from Amsterdam playing Texas-blues, Rock and a lot beyond, with heart and soul.
- Messin' with Texas - Ripped up Rock & Blues.
- Shame Shame - Rockin' blues band from Dallas, Texas. Profile, gig dates, and reviews.
- Los Conejos Texas Blues Band - Texas blues from Switzerland. Includes band information, press reviews, recordings, pictures, tour schedule and MP3 sound samples.
- W.C. Clark Blues Revue - The Revue mixes Memphis soul and hard Texas blues to create their own blend of blues. Official web site of this Austin, Texas based act with bio, press coverage, itinerary, photos and sound bites.
- Jeans, Wes - Raw Texas blues mixed with Jimi Hendrix's rock and Memphis' funk is on the menu here. Official site of this Marshall, East Texas based band with history, pictures, tour dates and sound samples.
- Texas Blues Magazine - Monthly magazine "Bringing A World Of Blues To Texas... Taking Texas Blues To The World!"
- Hudson Blues Band - Five-piece Chicago-Texas-style blues band. Official site of this Seattle, Washington based act with band and contact information.
- Big Sister - With their distincive brew of roots-rock, deep blues, funk and feedback, this has grooved audiences from Burlington, Vermont to Austin, Texas.
- White, Lavella - Biography of Lavelle White, blues singer in Texas.
- Hard Feelings, The - Blues/soul/country/rock band from Austin, Texas. Biography, articles, and pictures.
- Juke Jumpers, The - Rhythm and blues band from Fort Worth, Texas. Site includes history and biographies.
- Houston Blues Society, The - (Texas) Site offers information on local artists, venues, news, directory, discussion, membership and links.
- Frimer Band, The - Danish formation that plays a funky "blues'n soul" style based on Texas Blues combined with elements of soul music. Their web site includes band information, interviews, press reviews and a tour schedule.
- Sabine - Allen, Texas-based rhythm and blues, rock and country band. Provides brief member profiles, audio samples, photos, show dates and links.
- ZZ Top Texas Blues - Dedicated to the life and music of the group. Includes biography, articles, tour news, photographs, album art with lyrics and tablatures.
- Kelton, Gene and the Die Hards - Texas based band that plays boogie and blues. History, lyrics and tour schedule.
- Owens, Calvin - Blues trumpeter based in Houston, Texas. His web site offers biographical information, recordings, tour calendar and sound samples.
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