Blues Quiz C-005

'Hoochie Coochie Man' was written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Muddy Waters at Chess Studios in January 1954. It reached #3 on the R&B charts and became one of the most covered songs in blues history. Dixon was the creative mastermind behind Chess Records, writing hits for Muddy, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and Koko Taylor.

'Crazy Blues' by Mamie Smith, recorded on August 10, 1920 for Okeh Records in New York, is considered the first commercially successful blues recording. It sold 75,000 copies in its first month and over one million total, proving that there was a massive market for African American music and launching the 'race records' era.

Erja Lyytinen (b. 1976) from Kuopio, Finland, is one of Europe's finest blues guitarists, known internationally for her exceptional slide guitar technique. She studied at the Helsinki Conservatory and Musician's Institute in Los Angeles, and has been called 'the new Empress of the Blues' by Guitar World magazine. She has performed with Joe Bonamassa and at major festivals worldwide.

That powerful, growling voice belongs to Howlin' Wolf performing 'Smokestack Lightning' – one of the most distinctive vocal styles in all of blues.

Robert Johnson (1911–1938) wrote and recorded 'Cross Road Blues' at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, Texas on November 27, 1936. The song, about standing at a crossroads trying to hitch a ride, later inspired the myth of Johnson selling his soul to the devil. Eric Clapton's cover with Cream ('Crossroads') in 1968 brought this Delta classic to a worldwide rock audience.

Notodden Blues Festival, held annually in the small industrial town of Notodden (pop. ~12,000) in Telemark, has been one of Europe's premier blues festivals since 1988. B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Joe Bonamassa, and hundreds of international acts have graced its stages. The town is also home to the European Blues Museum.

Elmore James (1918–1963) recorded his electrified version of 'Dust My Broom' for Trumpet Records in Jackson, Mississippi in 1951, with Sonny Boy Williamson II on harmonica. The opening slide guitar riff – based on Robert Johnson's 1936 original – became one of the most recognizable in all of blues and has been copied by countless guitarists.

That soulful, powerful voice is Etta James performing 'At Last' – her signature song and one of the most iconic recordings in blues and R&B history.

Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968), known as Little Walter, recorded 'Juke' in 1952 at Chess Studios. It became the first (and still one of the only) instrumental blues harmonica singles to reach #1 on the R&B charts, staying there for 8 weeks. He revolutionized the instrument by amplifying it through a microphone cupped in his hands, creating the distorted, powerful tone that became the standard for Chicago blues harmonica.

Aaron Thibeaux 'T-Bone' Walker (1910–1975) was the first blues musician to use an electric guitar as a lead instrument. His 1947 recording 'Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)' is one of the most covered blues songs ever. He also pioneered showmanship – playing guitar behind his head and doing the splits, moves later adopted by Jimi Hendrix and Chuck Berry.