“When I’m singing the blues, I’m singing life.”
Blues music is more than a sound. Blues music, with its rich sound and profound history, encompasses movements and legacies that have been passed down throughout generations, continuing to resonate with those who listen to it to this day. And while its entrenched roots in oppression and prejudice are unavoidable, Blues isn’t always defined by sadness. Plenty of artists and albums have pioneered Blues sounds that are joyful and celebratory. If you’re interested in experiencing the magic of this musical genre for yourself, check out the best Blues books here at What We Reading!
Blues: The Basics – Dick Weissman
Kicking off our list of the best books about the Blues is Dick Weissman’s introductory guidebook to the history and impact of the genre. Condensing over a century’s worth of history into one accessible resource, Blues: The Basics is a chronologically sorted deep-dive into the major events and eras that helped shape the sounds and artists in the Blues world.
Complete with timelines and recommendations for further reading for those interested, Blues: The Basics is the perfect introduction to this musical style that informs and inspires.
The Country Blues – Samuel B. Charters
Samuel Charters was a novelist, poet, and producer of jazz and blues records who has grown to become one of the most beloved voices in Black music across history. His 1959 book, The Country Blues, is widely considered to be one of the first Blues books ever written dedicated to documenting the formation and history of this incredible musical genre.
Tracing its foundations in Africa and the deep American South, Charters breaks down the differences within the Blues genre, expertly analysing how these forms developed and what they mean to those who continue to play them.
Deep Blues – Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer is a famed music critic who has worked for both the New York Times and Rolling Stone. In Deep Blues, he takes readers on a powerful exploration of the American Deep South to expose how slavery and oppression led to the development of Blues music.
Palmer explains how music was passed down from generation to generation, growing and evolving as time rolled on. Palmer also explores how Blues music was able to flourish outside of its cultural roots and become the cultural phenomenon it is today, enjoyed by millions of listeners across the world.
Bessie Smith: A Poet’s Biography Of A Blues Legend – Jackie Kay
In Bessie Smith, National Poet of Scotland Jackie Kay traces the life of one of America’s most influential Blues artists, as well as her impact on her own upbringing. Going down in history as the ‘Empress of the Blues’, Bessie Smith’s life was an incredible tale of perseverance and resilience.
Orphaned at nine, she sang on street corners and on travelling shows before her breakthrough came in 1923 with the newly-founded Columbia Records. Known for her distinct vocal range and enigmatic delivery, Kay’s combination of history, poetry and prose makes for one of the most uniquely told historical biographies and a beautiful homage to Smith and the Blues during the Roaring ’20s.
Delta Blues – Ted Gioia
Founder of jazz.com Ted Gioia is a published pianist and composer. He has written numerous works on jazz and roots music, and Delta Blues marks his foray into the origins and development of the Blues.
Combining fieldwork, archival material and interviews, this is one of the most analytical Blues books in the world and one of the most invaluable resources for those looking to understand the importance of the genre as a movement. From the 19th-century plantations to the likes of B.B. King and Muddy Waters, Delta Blues is a must-read.
Brother Robert: Growing Up with Robert Johnson – Annye C. Anderson
One of the most influential Blues guitarists of all time, Robert Johnson is vividly brought to life in this stunning memoir from Annye C. Anderson. Related to him from his mother’s side, Anderson’s musician biography differs from most others on Johnson due to how personal it is, exploring how a passion for the Blues fuelled an otherwise shy and unassuming man.
Brother Robert is not only one of the best Blues books for learning more about the life and times of one of the genre’s most acclaimed heroes but also one of the best reads for those looking to capture a sense of how profoundly the music shapes those who play and listen to it.
When I Left Home – Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy, one of the most famous Blues musicians, has won 8 Grammy Awards, released over 30 albums, and still receives recognition as the pioneering force behind the Chicago Blues style. However, Buddy Guy, one of the most famous Blues musicians, has won 8 Grammy Awards, released over 30 albums, and still receives recognition as the pioneering force behind the Chicago Blues style.
When I Left Home is Buddy Guy’s own inspirational recounting of his upbringing in Louisana, his move to Chicago and how resilience and self-belief enabled him to overcome incredible odds to cement his place in music history.
The Story Of The Blues – Paul Oliver
Paul Oliver’s The Story of the Blues is a collection of over 200 vintage photographs documenting the history of this musical genre. Featuring a reworked introduction from the author, it is an illuminating guide that brings to life the African-American singers and writers who pioneered the Blues, as well as the settings and environments that inspired them. From slave songs, and country ballads to more urban sounds, Oliver captures how momentous events across American history have continued to shape the music.
Heralded as ‘encyclopedic in scope and a bright work of scholarship’ by the New York Times, The Story of the Blues is one of the best Blues books for those looking for a comprehensive run-through of all there is to know about this magical genre of music.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
