Highlights 50 milestone blues recordings and brings a new focus to the history of the blues, through key songs, singers, and the musicians who made it possible.

The Story of the Blues in 50 Songs traces the evolution of the blues and its influence on modern music.

Highlighting 50 key recordings, the book explores the genre's roots in Black American culture and its impact on rock, soul, jazz, and hip-hop.

Entries discuss pioneering artists like Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, and Muddy Waters, along with later icons such as Eric Clapton and Janis Joplin.

Firsthand accounts from musicians and producers offer insight into the creative process, while "Voice Box" features provide additional commentary on key figures and labels.

Illustrated with vintage photos and memorabilia, this engaging volume is perfect for both seasoned blues enthusiasts and newcomers alike.[AuthorName]By Mike Evans and Evans and Foreword by Shelley Ritter[/AuthorName][AuthorBio]A musician in 1960s rock, soul, and blues bands, Mike Evans began writing about popular music in the 1970s, when he was a regular contributor to Melody Maker. He is also the author of the highly successful The Blues: A Visual History. Mike lives in Hastings, England.
Shelley Ritter is the executive director of the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Under her direction, the museum has been recognized nationally at the White House with a National Medal for Museum and Library Services and a National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award and internationally with an induction to The Excellence Club, Europa Nostra. She has over thirty years of experience in museums and has worked in grant administration and historic preservation.[/AuthorBio][NumIllustration]250 color and b/w photos[/NumIllustration][CoAuthor][/CoAuthor][SubTitle][/SubTitle][ColorPattern]250 color and b/w photos[/ColorPattern]