The Berkeley Lecce

“History and development of American blues”

                     by Michael Quinn

“The American musical form known as the blues is widely misunderstood, even in its native land. Its origins are shrouded in mystery – it seems every historian has his or her favorite stories. But we do know that the genre known as the blues has African roots, and is unique to the United States” (Michael Quinn) Michael Quinn, a recent import to Lecce from Austin, Texas, will discuss the early forms of blues, some of its regional variations and offer examples of what “authentic” blues really is. There will be a nod to the research of seminal folklorist Alan Lomax, also from Austin, whose work in documenting blues and discovering artists such as Leadbelly and Muddy Waters, is of utmost importance. Bringing Lomax into the discussion is especially relevant to the Salento where, in 1954, he recorded and documented a body of folk music, music which is now mostly disappeared; we know it today only because of Lomax’s monumental study.