Blues

Sometimes you might feel a little bit sad or a little bit lonely. I am the sound that understands that feeling. I sound like a gentle guitar sighing, or a voice humming low and slow. I can be quiet like a whisper when you feel thoughtful. I can also be big and happy like a shout when you want to dance. I am the Blues. I am a special kind of music that turns all your big feelings into a beautiful song.

I was born a long, long time ago, in the late 19th century. My home was in the warm Southern United States. I came from African American people who worked very, very hard all day in the fields. To share their big feelings, they would sing songs. They sang about their tough days and their happy hopes for better days to come. They mixed their work songs, their church songs, and their own special rhythms together. From all of those wonderful voices, I was born.

My sound traveled everywhere. People played me on guitars, pianos, and little harmonicas that fit in their pockets. I made people want to tap their feet. I made them want to get up and dance, even if they were feeling a little blue. I became the grandparent to other kinds of music, like jazz and rock and roll. So when you hear a song that makes you feel understood, you might be hearing a little piece of me. I am the Blues, and I am here to help everyone share their story through music.