The contribution of Blues music to the development of many other musical genres is very significant. Jazz, rock music, country and western are just some of the styles that owe much of their evolution to the original blues. The blues originally arose from the hardships endured by many generations of African Americans, and first arose in rural Mississippi, around the dawn of the 20th century. The style developed from work shouts (known as arhoolies) and became the vocal narrative style we associate with blues music today. Blues can be distinguished both as a musical form and as a genre (style) of music. The typical blues form consists of a 12-bar harmonic pattern that is divided into three groups of four bars each. (A beat is a measure and in musical notation is indicated by a vertical line.) The 12-bar pattern usually follows a traditional blues chord progression. This form was standardized in 1912 with the publication of “Memphis Blues” by musician and composer WC Handy. From the beginning, the blues form b...