Texas blues is a subgenre of
blues. It has had various style variations but typically has been played with more
swing than other blues styles.
Texas blues differs from styles such as
Chicago blues in its use of instruments and sounds, especially the heavy use of the guitar. Musicians such as
Stevie Ray Vaughan contributed by using various types of guitar sounds like southern slide guitar and different melodies of blues and jazz. Texas blues also relies on guitar solos or "licks" as bridges in songs.
Texas Blues began to appear in the early 1900s among African Americans who worked in oilfields, ranches and lumber camps. In the 1920s,
Blind Lemon Jefferson innovated the style by using jazz-like improvisation and single string accompaniment on a guitar; Jefferson's influence defined the field and inspired later performers, like
Lightnin' Hopkins,
Lil' Son Jackson, and
T-Bone Walker. During the
Great Depression in the 1930s, many bluesmen moved to cities like
Galveston,
Houston and
Dallas. It was from these urban centers that a new wave of popular performers appeared, including slide guitarist and gospel singer
Blind Willie Johnson and legendary vocalist
Big Mama Thornton.
T-Bone Walker relocated to
Los Angeles to record his most influential work in the 1940s. His R&B influenced backing and saxophone imitating lead guitar sound would become an influential part of the
electric blues sound that would be perfected in Chicago by artists like
Muddy Waters. He also influenced
Goree Carter, whose "
Rock Awhile" (1949) featured an
over-driven electric guitar style and has been cited as a strong contender for the "
first rock and roll record" title.
The state R&B recording industry was based in
Houston with labels like
Duke/Peacock, which in the 1950s provided a base for artists who would later pursue the electric Texas blues sound, including
Johnny Copeland and
Albert Collins.
Freddie King, a major influence on electric blues, was born in Texas, but moved to Chicago as a teenager. His instrumental number "
Hide Away" (1961), was emulated by
British Blues artists including Eric Clapton.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s the Texas electric blues scene began to flourish, influenced by
country music and blues-rock, particularly in the clubs of
Austin. The diverse style often featured instruments like keyboards and horns, but placed particular emphasis on powerful lead guitar breaks.[SUP]
[1][/SUP] The most prominent artists to emerge in this era were the brothers
Johnny and
Edgar Winter, who combined traditional and southern styles. In the 1970s,
Jimmie Vaughan formed
The Fabulous Thunderbirds and in the 1980s his brother
Stevie Ray Vaughan broke through to mainstream success with his virtuoso guitar playing, as did
ZZ Top with their brand of Southern rock.
Notable performers
how'd a Bama boy slip in there......sorry Hemi....really sorry ..........no I'm not 
