The Painful Birth of Blues and Jazz | Folklife Today
One hundred years ago this month, February 26, 1917, what is generally acknowledged as the first recording of jazz was released.
Desert Blues
Among many African Americans there was a desire to move away from musical forms such as spirituals, which were identified with slavery days, and yet they also wanted musical styles of their own. A new sound arose in street  and community music of African Americans in the late 19th century. It  was  usually one singer accompanied by a guitar and characterized by “bent” or “blue” notes, not on the standard scale. These notes likely had earlier origins, as they are found in rural African American work songs. Examples are found in field recordings of African American work songs made as the genre was disappearing: This is “ Calling Trains,” by an unknown former railroad worker recorded in 1936 by John Lomax, and “ Cornfield Holler” sung by Abraham Powell recorded in 1939 by John and Ruby Lomax.  The “blue notes” could best be played on instruments that allowed the creation of “blue” notes such as the guitar (especially slide guitar), wind, and brass instruments. The songs expressed a longing, loss, or desire and came to be called “the blues.” The word “blues” already existed in popular song distribution for sad songs and love songs, so many song titles had “blues” in them long before blues music saw print. To provide an idea of what this early blues sounded like, here is Hattie Ellis singing her own composition, “ <anchor>Desert Blues</anchor>,” in a field recording by John and Ruby Lomax made in Texas in 1939.
Desert Blues | Library of Congress
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# Audio RecordingDesert Blues

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## Desert Blues

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## Desert Blues

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## About this Item

### Title

- Desert Blues

### Names

- 

Lomax, John A. (John Avery), 1867-1948 (Collector)

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Lomax, Ruby T. (Ruby Terrill) (Collector)

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Ellis, Hattie, 1913- (Performer)

### Created / Published

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near Huntsville, Texas, May 14, 1939

### Headings

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United States -- Texas -- Walker County -- Huntsville

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Music

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Songs

### Genre

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Music

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Songs

### Notes

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Venue: Goree State Farm

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Performance Note: "Desert Blues" performed by Hattie Ellis (vocals and guitar) at Goree State Farm, near Huntsville, Texas, on May 14, 1939.

### Medium

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sound disc : analog, 78 rpm ; 12 in.

### Call Number/Physical Location

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AFC 1939/001: AFS 02650a01

### Source Collection

- John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip (AFC 1939/001)

### Repository

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American Folklife Center

### Digital Id

### Online Format

- 

audio

### Part of

### Format

### Contributor

### Dates

### Location

### Language

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### Featured in

## Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is not aware of any U.S. copyright protection (see Title 17, U.S.C.) or any other restrictions in the material in this collection, except as noted below. Users should keep in mind that the Library of Congress is providing access to these materials strictly for educational and research purposes. The written permission of the copyright owners and/or other holders of rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. See our Legal Notices and Privacy and Publicity Rights for additional information and restrictions.

The Center asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here. Researchers are also reminded that privacy and publicity rights may pertain to certain uses of this material.

A small subset the sound recordings in this collection are not included in this online presentation because there is a strong possibility that there may be underlying rights in musical lyrics or compositions. Researchers with an interest or need to review the entire body of material are encouraged to contact the American Folklife Center: Those song titles not included are:

- Bull-Cow Blues
- Don't You Leave Me Here
- Everybody's Down on Me
- Little Log Cabin
- Louise
- Maria
- Springtime in the Rockies

Credit line

John and Ruby Lomax 1939 southern states recording trip (AFC 1939/001), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

## Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as
a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

### Chicago citation style:

Lomax, John A, Ruby T Lomax, and Hattie Ellis. Desert Blues. near Huntsville, Texas, 1939. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/lomaxbib000241/.

### APA citation style:

Lomax, J. A., Lomax, R. T. & Ellis, H. (1939) Desert Blues. near Huntsville, Texas. [Audio] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/lomaxbib000241/.

### MLA citation style:

Lomax, John A, Ruby T Lomax, and Hattie Ellis. Desert Blues. near Huntsville, Texas, 1939. Audio. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/lomaxbib000241/>.

## More items like this

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Audio Recording

Mama Don't 'low | Mama Don't 'low No Swingin' Out in Here

- Contributor:
  Stewart, Mozelle - Lomax, Ruby T. (Ruby Terrill) - Hart, Jimmie Lee - Austin, Lavena - Lomax, John A. (John Avery) - Fitzpatrick, Ella Mae - McMurray, Doris - Ellis, Hattie - Raymond, Gene

- Date: 1939-05-14

- 

Audio Recording

It's a Blessin' Jes' to Call His Precious Name

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  Stewart, Mozelle - Lomax, Ruby T. (Ruby Terrill) - Hart, Jimmie Lee - Austin, Lavena - Lomax, John A. (John Avery) - Fitzpatrick, Ella Mae - McMurray, Doris - Ellis, Hattie - Raymond, Gene

- Date: 1939-05-14

- 

Audio Recording

- Contributor:
  Ellis, Hattie - Lomax, Ruby T. (Ruby Terrill) - Lomax, John A. (John Avery)

- Date: 1939-05-14

- 

Audio Recording

No, Sir, No, Sir, No

- Contributor:
  Lomax, Ruby T. (Ruby Terrill) - Longino, Grace - Lomax, John A. (John Avery)

- Date: 1939-05-13

- 

Audio Recording

- Contributor:
  Blacker, Eugene - Lomax, Ruby T. (Ruby Terrill) - Lomax, John A. (John Avery) - Brown, Alvin - Conley, Terrell - Brown, William

- Date: 1939-05-13

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