'Delta Blues' traces blues history from its murky beginnings in Africa to the Mississippi Delta region where it spawned notable figures and influenced future musicians worldwide. The author creates a dozen profiles of seminal blues musicians from Son House to B.B. King and wraps it up with a chapter on the Blues Revival in the 1960s. Gioa is a noted music historian known for his work in the field of jazz (the fraternal twin of the blues) and in the area of the blues, his love of the genre and his analytical discernments are evident and unparalleled. Where the writing suffers is in the speculations he makes where there is no evidence and in a prophesy about the future of the blues that, fourteen years after the publication of the book has yet to pass. Nonetheless, his astute insights about the music itself, coupled with the Recommended Listening List at the back of the book, make for a richly rewarding experience. ( )

I found this a fascinating read. Ted Gioia examines the birth of the blues at the start of the twentieth century, and follows some of the major (but often little known) players through their lives. The journey shows us the evolution of the music, as well as the changes in society. Sadly, many of these bluesmen and women did not live long enough to see the tremendous impact they had on what is now our modern music. Nor did most of them ever get the credit they deserved.

Gioia's writing is engaging and his love for the music bleeds onto the pages. However, this is not a light read I'd recommend for a casual fan. This is a detailed examination of a musical style and culture that reshaped music as we know it. If the name Robert Johnson doesn't mean anything to you, then I doubt this book would hold your interest. But if you love the blues, this is a must have for your collection. ( )

This is a wonderful account of the history of the blues in Mississippi and the south. ( )