Louisiana blues

Louisiana blues
Stylistic origins	Blues Dixieland rhythm and blues zydeco
Cultural origins	1940 and 50s New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, US
Typical instruments	Keyboards saxophone guitar bass guitar drums harmonica
Subgenres
New Orleans blues – Swamp blues

Louisiana blues is a genre of blues music that developed in the period after World War II in the state of Louisiana. It is generally divided into two major subgenres, with the jazz-influenced New Orleans blues based on the musical traditions of that city and the slower tempo swamp blues incorporating influences from zydeco and Cajun music from around Baton Rouge.^[1] Major artists in the New Orleans tradition include Professor Longhair and Guitar Slim and for swamp blues Slim Harpo and Lightnin' Slim. Both genres peaked in popularity in the 1960s and were covered by a number of rock artists. Interest declined in the later 1960s but there have been occasional revivals since the 1970s.

New Orleans blues

The blues that developed in the 1940s and 1950s in and around the city of New Orleans was strongly influenced by jazz and incorporated Caribbean influences, it is dominated by piano and saxophone but has also produced major guitar bluesmen.^[2] Major figures in the genre include Professor Longhair and Guitar Slim, who both produced major regional, national R&B chart and even mainstream hits.^[3]

Swamp blues

Swamp blues developed around Baton Rouge in the 1950s and which reached a peak of popularity in the 1960s. It generally has a slow tempo and incorporates influences from other genres of music, particularly the regional styles of zydeco and Cajun music.^[4] Its most successful proponents included Slim Harpo and Lightnin' Slim, who enjoyed a number of rhythm and blues and national hits and whose work was frequently covered by bands of the British Invasion.^[3]

See also

• Music of Louisiana
• List of Louisiana blues musicians

References

1. Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music. Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 161. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
2. Cub Coda, "New Orleans blues", Allmusic, archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
3. Unterberger, R. (2003). "Louisiana blues", in V. Bogdanov, C. Woodstra, S. T. Erlewine, eds., All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues. 3rd ed. Milwaukee: Backbeat Books. pp. 687–688. ISBN 0-87930-736-6.
4. Cub Coda, "Swamp blues", Allmusic, archived from the original on 30 May 2011.