Browsing: The Language of the Blues

The devil has many names down South, some derived from the Christianization among African slaves of West African trickster deities… Learn all about “Devil” in blues language!

The Delta, the cradle of American music. Find out it’s incredible history and how it gave birth to the blues and rock n roll

At IBC, discover live and in-person what the words in your favorite blues songs really mean from American Blues Scene & The Huffington Post writer Debra Devi!!

Find what the legendary “Crossroads” word means in the blues, and follow it’s amazing, devilish roots all the way back to Africa in this week’s article

Pianist Dr. John came of age in New Orleans in the 1950s, when musicians engaged in fierce jam sessions called Cutting Contests…

Tuning the guitar to an open minor chord is called cross note, or Bentonia, tuning…

Duane Allman’s favorite tuning was pioneered by none other than Robert Johnson and Son House. Discover “Cross-Spanish” and it’s huge significance to the blues in this week’s column!

Another scary word from hoodoo folklore, discover what “Cross” means in blues significance as sung by Ma Rainey and Sleepy John Estes!

Find out the deathly significance of “Crepe”, as used by Blind Lemon Jefferson and the Memphis Jug Band. This ain’t your mama’s thin pancakes…

Son House famously sang about the cooling board, now discover it’s origins and significance to the blues in the weekly article.