What do you know about the music called "the blues"？ Do you think it is the same thing as jazz? Well，in some ways the two types of music are related，but the blues has its own history and development that is quite different from that of jazz.

The beginnings of the blues date back to the nineteenth century.After the Civil War，when the slaves were free in the South，life was hard.As African Americans came together and formed their own communities，the blues began to develop out of some of their earlier music.Songs usually expressed the feelings of their composers and many were about the difficult times.

Some people say Mississippi was the birthplace of the blues，but early blues singers were also found in Texas，Alabama，and several other Southern states.As time passed，the blues moved north.Chicago became an important blues center.

What does the blues sound like? Stringed instruments，especially the guitar，are important in blues playing.A piano is also often used.Piano players frequently get the sound they want by "crushing" the keys，or playing two notes not quite at the same time.Many blues songs are built around three grouped lines.The first two lines are repeated，and then the third line is a sort of comment.

Who were some legendary blues figures? Bessie Smith was an early female singer；Robert Johnson became famous for his special way of playing music.Later blues greats，such as Muddy Waters，had a direct influence on such groups as the Rolling Stones-in fact，until his death the Stones visited Muddy Waters whenever they played in Chicago.

Notes：

1．date back to 追溯到

2．community n．社区；社团

3．stringed instrument弦乐器

4．crush v．挤压

5．legendary adj.传奇的；著名的；传说中的

6．great n．杰出人物