YEAR OF THE BLUES 2003





		Episode 1: "The Birth of the Blues" Locale: Ghana The series opens with a celebration and definition of blues music. Interviewees include Carlos Santana, Mick Jagger, Chuck D, Martin Scorsese, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, and many more. Though the blues is an American music form, its origins are undoubtedly African. The Blues begins with a journey through the music’s roots in West Africa, where slaves were loaded onto ships bound for America. A full segment of the program features modern master Taj Mahal and his National Steel Guitar. Listen: Full Version » Windows Media Part 1 » Windows Media Part 2 » Windows Media Part 3 » Windows Media Read Transcript » Supplemental Audio: Bonnie Raitt Interview (1 of 2) Windows Media Bonnie Raitt Interview (2 of 2) Windows Media Carlos Santana Interview Windows Media John Lee Hooker Interview (1 of 2) Windows Media John Lee Hooker Interview (2 of 2) Windows Media Martin Scorsese Interview Windows Media Taj Mahal Did You Ever Dream Lucky? Windows Media Supplemental Material: Names Discussed in this Episode Links courtesy of All Music Guide Louis Armstrong, Marcia Ball, The Beatles, George Benson, Elvin Bishop, James Brown, Tracy Chapman, Eric Clapton, Chuck D, Mos Def, Willie Dixon, Baby Face Leroy Foster, Billy Gibbons, Buddy Guy, W. C. Handy, Corey Harris, John Lee Hooker, Mick Jagger, Skip James, Robert Johnson, Angelique Kidjo, B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo', Robert Plant, Prince, Bonnie Raitt, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, Carlos Santana, Koko Taylor, Rufus Thomas, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Jack White, Big Joe Williams, Johnny Winter, Howlin' Wolf Read transcript of this episode (PDF): Episode 1 Transcript (Adobe Acrobat PDF) » Read transcript of this episode (HTML): \| 1 \| 2 \| 3 \| 4 \| 5 \| Producer's Notes Episode 1: The Birth of the Blues The thirteen episodes of this documentary series were written and produced out of order. We skipped around from Episodes 6 to 3 to 5 to 2 -- from 1940’s Chicago to 1920’s Mississippi to 1950’s Memphis. It was a couple of months before we got around to making Episode 1, for two reasons: because we were waiting for Bob Santelli to return from Africa with the recordings from the slave quarters in Ghana, and also because, quite frankly, we were afraid of Episode 1. A proper description of the Blues is elusive; the music is so elemental it nearly defies description. What helped a great deal was putting guitars in the hands of our host and one of our guests. In the recording studio where we laid down Keb’ Mo’s tracks, the guitars and banjos leaning against the wall (courtesy of our engineer Bob Lindner) allowed Keb’ to not only demonstrate 12-bar blues for us, but to help him get his groove back during breaks. And as we recorded Taj Mahal in the Fantasy building in Berkeley, CA, we witnessed his amazing ability to become instantly and completely absorbed into whatever music he is playing. Music is to Taj Mahal like air is to breathing. Peter Crimmins Senior Producer Ben Manilla Productions Citations: Corey Harris, "Capitaine", Downhome Sophisticate (Rounder 11661-3194-2), ©2002 Rounder Records \| Buy » Taj Mahal, "Catfish Blues", Recorded Exclusively for The Blues, ©2003 Experience Music Project and Ben Manilla Productions Taj Mahal, "Did You Ever Dream Lucky?", Recorded Exclusively for The Blues, ©2003 Experience Music Project and Ben Manilla Productions John Lee Hooker with Bonnie Raitt, "I'm in the Mood", The Healer (Chameleon D2-74808), ©1989 Chameleon Records \| Buy » Muddy Waters, "Mannish Boy", Hard Again (Blue Sky 34449), ©1977 Blue Sky \| Buy » B.B. King, "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother", King of the Blues (MCAD4-10677), ©1992 MCA \| Buy » Willie Dixon and Memphis Slim, "Slim's Thing", Willie's Blues (OBCCD-501-2), ©1990 Prestige/Bluesville \| Buy » Taj Mahal, "Stag O' Lee Blues", Recorded Exclusively for The Blues, ©2003 Experience Music Project and Ben Manilla Productions Taj Mahal, "Take This Hammer", Recorded Exclusively for The Blues, ©2003 Experience Music Project and Ben Manilla Productions B.B. King, "The Thrill is Gone", King of the Blues (MCAD4-10677), ©1992 MCA \| Buy » Major funding for the radio series comes from Volkswagen. The Blues is a co-production of EMP Radio and Ben Manilla Productions, in association with WGBH Radio, Boston. Produced by Peter Crimmins and Matt Bauer. Executive Producers: Robert Santelli and Ben Manilla. Executive in charge for WGBH Radio: Robert Lyons. Credits



		Ten Things to Help You Become a Better Blues Musician, by Don Mock
		Sweet Home Chicago: Big City Blues 1946-1966 Excello Records and the Swamp Blues 2003 W.C. Handy Blues Awards Weekend (Feature Article) The British Blues A Once-in-a-Lifetime Lineup Salutes the Blues Memphis: A Century of the Blues Clarksdale: Delta Blues Past and Present The Piedmont Blues: Alive and Well in D.C. Q&A with Peter Guralnick Don Robey and Duke-Peacock Records Celebrating the Year of the Blues







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