Forms of blues music emerged right after the Civil War in the Mississippi Delta. It was influenced by a mixture of musical styles, including ballads, African music and songs from black farm workers' field hollers. Blues musicians used a call-and-response musical style.
After the Civil War, many African-American men worked in minstrel and vaudeville shows. Many blues styles were also developed in New Orleans, Kansas City and Memphis in brothels and on steamboats.
Composer W.C. Hardy played a major role in the formation of the blues form. Hardy is credited with publishing the first blues song in 1912, a piece called "Memphis Blues."
During the 1920s, a number of blues musicians recorded songs. One of the first popular blues songs was Mamie Smith's "Crazy Blues." Other prominent blues singers were Bessie Smith and Gertrude "Ma" Rainey.
During the Great Depression, many African-Americans moved from the South to cities in the North, especially to Chicago. Some popular Chicago blues musicians were Big Bill Bronzy, Houston "Tampa Red" Woodbridge," Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf.
In the 1950s, other styles of music eclipsed blues, including rhythm and blues and rock 'n' roll. Some popular blues artists did exist, such as B.B. King. A revival of blues music began in the 1970s with bands such as Led Zeppelin.