The Mississippi Delta

The Mississippi Delta is arguably the most rich and profound breeding ground for early blues. Although, blues was developed all over the South, the Delta region was special in the quantity as well as quality of musicians that sprang from its fertile fields. 

This area should not be confused with, as I did for many years, with the Mississippi River Delta Basin, actually located in Louisiana. The area most refer to simply as "the Delta" is situated between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers In the Northwest of the state. So, what was so special about this particular area that it could spawn such incredible music? To be honest, I'm not sure. A likely explanation is that is a combination of many things.

 Firstly, since the time of slavery, workers sang in the field to pass the time. A form of this came to be known as the "field holler." With such a large fertile area, there was a great need for farming work. Field hollers became an important forerunner to the blues and the fact that there was such a great development of blues in the region was there were so many people singing everyday. 

Secondly, Memphis (at the northern tip of the Delta) was only a hop away. Memphis was a major point in the South for music. Jazz, minstrel shows, and the like were part the city's entertainment core. 

Another reason (this one is more speculation than fact) is because of the hardships of the area. Racism, of course, was rampant in the early 20th Century South. Plantation work was still employing many people, like the famous Dockery Plantation where bluesmen such as Robert Johnson and Charlie Patton toiled. Also, the Mississippi State Penitentiary, known to the locals as Parchman Farm. This was a maximum security prison which used gruesome manual labor and strict rules to keep its mostly black population in order. If the blues is anything it is the story of struggle and hardship.

This is just the tip of the iceberg concerning Delta blues. If you want to know more, I can personally and highly recommend a book aptly titled "Delta Blues" by Ted Gioia. He Chronicles the history of the music as well as profiles its most significant musicians. But, of course, nothing is as good of an education on blues as listening to the music itself!

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