"Every time you hear the holler in blues, every time you hear the slide of a blues guitar, you are communing with an African ancestor."

If you had to pick the singular most influential genre in music history, chances are you'd pick the blues. Between inspiring rock n' roll to hip hop, R&B, and more, the early artists who created the blues laid a foundation for the music that would change the world. And in this episode, you'll hear firsthand the sounds and the history of this genre in Tennessee.

Join host Aaron Millar as he sings with a gospel choir; visits the grave of Sonny Boy Williamson, the grandfather of The Blues harmonica; learns the history of African ancestors and the influence of enslaved music on the blues; watches jazz performances burst to life on the streets of Chattanooga, and more.

ABOUT THE SERIES

Produced in a documentary style, the Tennessee Music Pathways series takes listeners on a more than 1,000-mile road trip, from Bristol and the birth of country music to Memphis and the start of rock n’ roll. Along the way, listeners will hear bluegrass played fast as lightning and traditional Appalachian music performed live in the Great Smoky Mountains. Follow along as host Aaron Millar shops in Elvis’ favorite clothing store, bangs drums in the studio that made Uptown Funk, learns to play the spoons and drinks whiskey in a distillery housed in a more than 100-year-old former prison.

WANT MORE TENNESSEE MUSIC?

Tennessee Music Pathways is a guide that connects visitors to the rich musical heritage of our state. Visitors can curate their own path based on interests using an interactive guide at TNmusicpathways.com. Follow the conversation on social using or searching hashtag #tnmusicpathways.

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Thank you to our guests and musicians:

• Rick Rushing, Rick Rushing & The Blues Strangers rrandbluesstrangers.wordpress.com
• Katie Rainge-Briggs, the National Museum of African American Music nmaam.org
• Elijah Cameron, The Bessie Smith Cultural Center bessiesmithcc.org
• Stratton Tingle, the Sidewalk Stages at Sound Corps soundcorps.org/sidewalk-stages
• Visit Chattanooga visitchattanooga.com
• Visit Nashville visitmusiccity.com

This series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry.