P. O. Box 167, Pleasant Hill, Tennessee 38578
PLEASE NOTE: In keeping with appropriate care during the current pandemic, the dates for this course have been changed.
ULLI Short Course – Spring 2020 – Six Weeks
ULLI Short Course – Spring 2020 – Six Weeks
Early Blues – A Survey of Blues from the early 1900’s through the 1950’s
Course Instructor: Don Dowdey
Tuesdays 10:00 -12:00 April 7 – May 12, 2020 in Room 1 of Pleasant Hill Community Church.
This course will focus on Classic Blues Women and on the Delta Bluesmen. Classic Blues came out of the Vaudeville tradition, and women such as Mamie Smith “America’s First Lady of the Blues, Ma Rainey “Mother of the Blues", Ida Cox “"The Uncrowned Queen of the Blues", Memphis Minnie, Bessie Smith “The Empress of the Blues”, Victoria Spivey “Queen Victoria”, Alberta Hunter, and Sippie Wallace were huge stars, performing all across America and in Europe. In contrast, The Delta Blues were created mostly by men, often recorded as solo acts (although usually performing in groups). Both document African-American experiences—sometimes tragic; sometimes humorous; sometimes bawdy; sometimes topical; sometimes universal; sometimes about love, usually going bad, but sometimes pushing gender fluidity. Our primary goal will be to enjoy great music, while learning something of the musicians and times which caused it to flourish.
Classic Blues
- I. Introduction to Classic Blues: Ma Rainey, Mamie Smith, Bessie Smith and Victory Sprivey
- II. More Classic Blues: Memphis Minnie, Alberta Hunter, and Sippie Wallace.
- III. Transgressive and Topical Blues: Blues about alternative lifestyles and topical events like the sinking of the Titanic
Delta Blues
- IV. Beginnings: Freddie Spruell, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Son House, Bo Carter
- V. Vagaries of Fame: R. L. Burnside, Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt, David Honeyboy Edwards
- VI. Carrying the Delta Blues Forward: Pinetop Perkins, Johnny Shines, John Lee Hooker, Lead Belly
Don Dowdey is a retired Library Dean and composition and literature instructor at the College level. The class will be based on his extensive music collection and lyrics will be provided for most songs. Don has previously taught ULLI classes on Music of the Southern Appalachians and an Introduction to the Blues. This course will cover some of the same artists as the Introduction to the Blues but will cover them more in-depth.
You may print this post and use the registration form below.
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: ________________________________________________________________________________
Email address: _________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ___________________________________ I prefer to be contacted by email: ____ phone: ____
Please enclose a check for $20 ($10 if you are a 2020 ULLI member) and mail to ULLI, Attn: Larry Burch, 67 Church Drive, P.O. Box 167, Pleasant Hill, TN 38578 or put it in his Heritage Hall mailbox. Thank you for your support.
