This show covers a few artists and songs that are possibly more popular today than they were 90 years ago. They are certainly more legendary, because neither the artists not the listeners considered any of these performances to become classics.

Blues music remained a product of Black American culture and as such, had a limited audience that could afford to buy records, no less the machine required to listen to them. In addition, the guitar was not yet accepted as a ‘practical’ instrument. Due to its higher timbre and the ability to project with some volume, the banjo had been the clear winner among stringed instruments. This show presents a few examples of how the guitar slowly grew in stature to become a ‘popular’ instrument.

Featured tracks include:

Diddie Wah Diddie – Blind Blake

Police Dog Blues – Blind Blake

Canned Heat Blues – Tommy Johnson

Big Road Blues – Tommy Johnson

Nobody’s Fault but Mine – Blind Willie Johnson

Let Your Light Shine on Me – Blind Willie Johnson

Death Letter Blues - Son House

Preachin’ the Blues – Son House

Standin’ on the Corner (Blue Yodel #9) – Jimmie Rodgers

T.B. Blues – Jimmie Rodgers