This primary source set uses recordings, documents, and photographs to tell the story of the origins of blues music in which women were an influential part.

Discover what the relationship is between poetry and the blues. This site features lesson plans and online resources.

Take a look into the life of blues artist Muddy Waters (1913-1983 CE). With an informative biography and an interactive career timeline, you will enjoy learning about this music legend.

Your student will discover more about the life and work of Robert Johnson with this informative lesson plan. This resource features lesson plans, web resources, and more.

Provides biographical details on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2008 inductee "Little Walter". Known for his sound of blues harmonica, he was a key contributor to the music of Muddy Waters. Includes timeline and song list.

Offers interesting biographical details on "Mother of the Blues", Ma Rainey, a 1990 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events and essential songs list.

A biographical sketch of the King of the Blues, B.B. King.

In the late 1960s, when the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane and other rock genres were raging, Carlos Santana and his band Santana introduced the music scene to a new Latin-based rock sound featuring an Afro-Cuban beat. This...

Blues artist B.B. King biography provides an overivew of King's life and musical career. Site contains two videos of King performing.

Explores comprehensive biographical details on superstar blues and soul musician, Janis Joplin, a 1995 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, recommended reading list, and essential songs.

Sam Cooke's influence on music, as the pioneer in cross-over from gospel to rhythm and blues, is described in this encyclopedia entry. His music was important to the African-American identity in the Civil Rights movement.

Read detailed biographical information on country/blues/folk music star, Hank Williams, a 1987 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes an essential songs list.

Kids learn about famous guitarist on this site. Some of the best musicians to ever play the guitar.

A brief look at the career Sam and Dave, one of the most influential soul acts of the 1960s. Links to other significant names in soul music, too.

Gary Snyder is the focus of this biography, identifying his contributions to literature through poetry. Click on "Gary Snyder Activities" for related artifacts and activities.

PBS presents a biography of the "Father of soul," Ray Charles. He was an internationally famed musician, combining jazz, country, gospel, soul, and R&B in a way that was truly unique.

This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Taj Mahal, an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and one of the pioneers of what came to be called world music. He combined blues and other African-American...

This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Berry Gordy, Jr., an American businessman, founder of the Motown Record Corporation (1959), which became the most successful black-owned music company in the...

This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Lloyd Price, an American singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Price made his mark in rock music history with his exuberant tenor and his flair for recasting rhythm and blues as...

This website outlines the popular forms of music during the Civil War, which included the songs of the minstrel shows like "Dixie," "Blue Tailed Fly," and "Old Dan Tucker."

This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Elmore James, an American blues singer-guitarist noted for the urgent intensity of his singing and guitar playing. He was a significant influence on the development of rock music.

This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Mississippi John Hurt, an American country-blues singer and guitarist who first recorded in the late 1920s but whose greatest fame and influence came when he was rediscovered in the early...

This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Solomon Burke, an American singer whose success in the early 1960s in merging the gospel style of the African American church with rhythm and blues helped to usher in the soul music era.

Read about Leroy Anderson, a composer who wrote many well-known songs. Includes a brief biography and discography.