Paul Merry Blues

Iconic rock book, but no rock prophesy.

I’ve just re-read one of the seminal books on the evolution of rock & roll, 47 years after I first obtained it, so if that doesn’t date me, nothing will. Perhaps I was given it by the author. I simply can't remember. When I say ‘evolution’, I mean the history of...

Earliest Electric Guitar Blues.

When did rock & roll get hip again?

Shein Die: the mystery photographer keeping blues alive

Birth of the Blues/Rock Guitar hero.

Electric blues and rock guitar heroes … do they still exist, or are they relics of the past, now most possible note combinations and innovations have long been worked out? That’s not a question I feel I'm qualified to comment on, subjectivity being the main influence...

Muddy on Stones. Keith on Muddy.

When pianos thundered in Texas.

American Thunder: How rock 'n' roll evolved. Part One. The first thunderous notes of the oldest of rock 'n' roll's forerunners were hammered out by black musicians, on second-hand, often second-rate pianos called tin pans, in north-easternTexas, sometime around...

Blues in Spoonfuls.

Blues, booze, drugs and religion.

Exploring US music’s missing history

Below is our video for June and July 2017. It includes a great live version of Willie Dixon’s ‘Spoonful’ by UK supergroup Cream as well as Howlin’ Wolf’s earlier version..

“Of all America’s creative gifts to the world, does any touch humanity more than the captivating music we call the blues?

Rock’n’roll, old school R&B, rock, soul, funk, jazz, metal and pop are some of the musical genres that have rolled out of the blues. It is the mother of all American music.

For lovers of popular music, how can blues not be one of America’s greatest gifts to the world?”

Paul Merry, author of America’s Gift. To order, click here: America’s Gift