Listen: Memphis blues examples
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About Memphis blues
Memphis blues is a music genre. It is usually classed as a form of country blues.
From Wikipedia
The Memphis blues is a style of blues music created from the 1910s to the 1930s by musicians in the Memphis area, such as Frank Stokes, Sleepy John Estes, Furry Lewis and Memphis Minnie. The style was popular in vaudeville and medicine shows and was associated with Beale Street, the main entertainment area in Memphis.
W. C. Handy, the "Father of the Blues", published the song "The Memphis Blues" in 1909 and this was the first blues to be written down. In lyrics, the phrase has been used to describe a depressed mood.
Genre family tree
Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Memphis blues.
Related genres
Frequently asked questions
What is Memphis blues?
Memphis blues is a music genre. It is usually classed as a form of country blues.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q509901 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Memphis blues – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Memphis Blues-Columbia A3813-Ted Lewis Jazz Band by W. C. Handy (composer); Ted Lewis Jazz Band (performer) – Public domain
- St Louis Blues - Handy's Memphis Blues Band (1922 sound recording) by Recording: Handy's Memphis Blues Band Composition: W. C. Handy – Public domain