logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2023
32m 26s

The Blues

History Hit
About this episode

So much of today’s music takes inspiration from the Blues, but where did Blues music itself come from?


Kate is joined by Lamont Jack Pearley - applied folklorist, ethnographer and historian of African American traditional music - who takes us through the history of Blues music, from influence to appropriation.

 

*WARNING there are adult words and discussions of racism in this episode*

 

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight.

 

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

 

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
The Truth About the Mitford Sisters
<p>The Mitfords could rank as the strangest family of the 20th century.</p><br><p>Unity and Diana were passionate fascists who became obsessed with Adolf Hitler, while Jessica became a communist. Unity even became mates with Hitler and was in Germany as the war broke out.</p><br> ... Show More
41m 49s
Nov 21
Did Henry VIII Have An Affair With Anne Boleyn's Sister?
<p>She was 'the Other Boleyn Girl' - Anne's sister, Mary, who supposedly had an affair with King Henry VIII. Such drama!</p><br><p>What evidence is there that the two got betwixt the sheets together? How likely was it?!</p><br><p>Joining Kate today is the historian and author, Es ... Show More
38m 50s
Nov 18
The Truth About Roald Dahl
<p>The Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda. Roald Dahl wrote some of the world's most loved children's books.</p><br><p>But what do we know about the man himself? Was he really a spy? Was he a good husband? And why have some editions of his books been edited?</p><br ... Show More
48m 34s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2021
Lenny Bruce Is Not Afraid (1962)
<p>It’s December 5th. This day in 1962, comedian Lenny Bruce is arrested in Chicago during a performance at a nightclub. His arrest is ostensibly because of underage patrons at the club, but Bruce had been targeted and arrested a number of times for his use of obscenity, and for ... Show More
16m 19s
Feb 2024
L'Histoire du Jazz : Sweet Home Chicago - 2/7
<p style="font-style: italic;">Pour écouter l’émission en entier, sans pub, abonnez-vous ! <a href="https://m.audiomeans.fr/s/S-tavkjvmo">https://m.audiomeans.fr/s/S-tavkjvmo</a></p> <p><strong>L'Histoire du Jazz : Sweet Home Chicago - 2/7 </strong></p><p><strong>A la fois doux, ... Show More
5 m
Feb 2024
Rock Firsts By Black Artists
We would not be sitting here talking about rock music if it weren’t for people of African descent…if you start in the present and begin to trace things backward to important innovations and accomplishments, nine times out of ten, you’ll end up exploring something from black cultu ... Show More
36m 12s
May 2024
The "Louie Louie" Freakout (1964)
<p>It's May 16th. This day in 1964, the FBI drops its years-long investigation into the pop song "Louie Louie."</p><p>Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why there was a moral and political panic over the song and its indecipherable lyrics -- and look into what the song is <em>actuall ... Show More
15m 17s
May 2024
16 | America Has A Problem | For Real, For Real
Black culture is a pivotal pillar of broader American culture. From fashion, to language, to being the sonic foundation to much of American music. In this special episode, our hosts do a deep dive into country music and how its roots are grounded in Black music. Using Beyoncé’s l ... Show More
33m 50s
Jun 2023
Ma Rainey's Mic Drop
June 12, 1928. The great Blues singer Ma Rainey steps up to the microphone at a studio in Chicago. She’s there to record a scandalous song called “Prove It On Me Blues.” It’s her answer to the rumor that she’d once attended a party with a bunch of other half-clothed women – a par ... Show More
28m 18s
May 2021
The ‘Big Bang’ in Jazz History
Jazz pianist Jason Moran brings us an exploration into the life and work of James Reese Europe and how the infamous 369th Infantry Regiment - also known as the Harlem Hellfighters - crossed racial lines and brought jazz to Europe. Joe Young of New York Public Radio talks about ho ... Show More
59m 40s
Apr 2024
Smash hits: 17th-century style
The music of the past can tell us a great deal about the time in which it was created - from societal trends to political affiliations. As part of the '100 Ballads' project, Professor Christopher Marsh and Dr Angela McShane have identified 100 of the biggest musical hits from 17t ... Show More
38m 7s