The Blues

In "The Blues," author Chris Thomas King challenges the conventional narrative that the genre originated on Mississippi Delta plantations. He presents compelling evidence showing that the blues thrived in New Orleans as early as 1900, arguing that it was a cosmopolitan art form rather than a rural one. Drawing from extensive research, primary sources, and interviews with folklorists, King asserts that the unique cultural environment of New Orleans facilitated the blues's development, promoting personal freedom despite its controversial reputation.