Get your mojo working as you take a musical trip from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago's gritty South Side and points beyond with Blues For Dummies, an insightful, toe-tappin', music lovers' guide to the blues. Popular blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks serves as your tour guide through the life and times of the blues, from the acoustic mystique of Robert Johnson and Son House to the urban blues men and women of today: John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, B.B. King, Etta James, Koko Taylor, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and, of course, Brooks himself. Blues For Dummies travels from sad to glad, with stops along the way at heartache and despair, hope and joy, on the road to great music. Get hip to the different styles and eras of the blues; discover what makes the blues so blue; find out "Who's Who" among four generations of blues musicians; and make tracks to the best blues clubs on the planet with this great, easygoing reference. Longtime fans of bluesman Brooks in particular may find that this overview of the blues resembles a warm reunion, rife with reminiscence. Novices will find that the book stands them in good stead whenever the conversation turns to this revered form of purely American popular music. Plenty of familiar musicians are profiled, including some who are not always associated with the "real" blues and whose presence shows that the authors are informers rather than purists. So George Thorogood and Elvis appear alongside J. B. Hutto and Robert Nighthawk, not least because such derivative artists are like gateway drugs for blues addicts. The book's organization makes for some odd placement, such as having the two Sonny Boy Williamsons' entries 50 pages apart, but definitive explanations of such perplexities as two artists with the same name help make this a good reference, regardless of where they appear, and so do the best record and club recommendations and the advice on putting a blues band together and even on recording. Mike Tribby "An excellent introduction and overview of the blues, America's greatest gift to world culture. The book lays out an incredible amount of information thoroughly and clearly." —John Landis, Director of The Blues Brothers and The Blues Brothers 2000 "This book will open your mind to one of America's greatest treasures." —Robert Cray, Blues Enthusiast "This is the perfect introduction to understanding a wonderful American music tradition; reading it will make any blues show or blues record even more fun." —Bruce Iglauer, President and Founder, Alligator Records Your Ticket to the World of Blues — the Faces, the Places, and the Music - Dozens of In-depth Profiles of the Greatest Blues Artists - True-Blue Recommendations for Building Your Own Classic Collection Feeling the Blues This incomparable music lover's guide takes you through the Mississippi Delta, up to Chicago, and to points beyond — sharing the sights and sounds that have made the blues an integral part of our culture — and our souls. You'll also get an intimate look at "Who's Who in the Blues." From Bessie Smith to John Lee Hooker to Robert Cray. It doesn't matter if your baby's left ya or your mojo's quit workin', don't get blue — just get Blues For Dummies . Rhapsody in Blues Distinguish the key ingredients that make up the blues sound - Identify the different shades of blues &— from jump blues to electric blues - Find the blues wherever you go — venues worth visiting - Put together your own satisfying collection of blues music - Make your next party a blues event - Kick back and enjoy the ultimate collection of blues recordings on the Blues For Dummies CD "An excellent introduction and overview of the blues, America's greatest gift to world culture. The book lays out an incredible amount of information thoroughly and clearly." ―John Landis, Director of The Blues Brothers and The Blues Brothers 2000 "This book will open your mind to one of America's greatest treasures." ―Robert Cray, Blues Enthusiast "This is the perfect introduction to understanding a wonderful American music tradition; reading it will make any blues show or blues record even more fun." ―Bruce Iglauer, President and Founder, Alligator Records Your Ticket to the World of Blues ― the Faces, the Places, and the Music - Dozens of In-depth Profiles of the Greatest Blues Artists - True-Blue Recommendations for Building Your Own Classic Collection Feeling the Blues This incomparable music lover's guide takes you through the Mississippi Delta, up to Chicago, and to points beyond ― sharing the sights and sounds that have made the blues an integral part of our culture ― and our souls. You'll also get an intimate look at "Who's Who in the Blues." From Bessie Smith to John Lee Hooker to Robert Cray. It doesn't matter if your baby's left ya or your mojo's quit workin', don't get blue ― just get Blues For Dummies . Rhapsody in Blues Distinguish the key ingredients that make up the blues sound - Identify the different shades of blues &― from jump blues to