Barbara Morrison: A Legend In Her Own Time
The Blues Singer Is Never Ordinary and Completely Genuine
Jul 30, 2009
The term “blues” is often used to refer to any sad or mournful song. The colloquialism dates back to at least the early 19th century, but the musical form evolved from Negro spirituals, work songs, field hollers, and ballads, both Anglo-and African-American.
The blues are in 4/4 time, are based on major tonality with melodies characterized by lowered 3rd and 7th (“blue”) notes, and has developed a stereotyped 12-measure harmonic pattern.
Down Home or Country Blues v. Urban or Classic Blues
The down home or country blues style seems to have existed in the 1890s with a singer self-accompanied by a banjo, later a guitar; the genre was associated with the southern USA, going as far west as Texas.
In down home or country blues, the major and minor thirds are not used interchangeably; instead the musician might often employ a “bent” note that slides between these two tonal centers, or create a tension by emphasizing the minor third in a context in which the harmony implied a major tone. A few well-known country blues singers include Robert Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, James Cotton, B.B. King, and Ray Charles.
However for contemporary musicians, the term “blues” refers to a precise 12-bar form that relies heavily on tonic, dominant, and subdominant harmonies. W.C. Handy claims to have discovered the “blues” and he published Memphis Blues in 1911 and St. Louis Blues in 1914 which he aimed at an urban clientele. In the 1920s, the urban or city blues style emerged: the 12-measure and the 16-or 32-measure patterns became standard.
Urban blues became predominant in the late 20s and the Chicago blues band scene began to produce important music. The electrification of the guitar led to the development of rhythm and blues, combining elements of blues, swing, and boogie-woogie. This Chicago style of electric blues was popularized by Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, James Cotton, Otis Spann, Little Walter and the second Sonny Boy Williamson band. Popular urban blues singers on the scene today include B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Keb Mo’ and Eric Clapton.
Female Urban/Classic Blues Singers Arrive
The urban/classic blues revealed a specifically female awareness, especially about love: unrequited love, salacious love, abused love, and cheating lovers. These subjects emerged as central aspects in many female repertoires and replaced the feelings of alienation, desolation, and loneliness which permeated the country blues idiom.
Ma Rainey, Mamie Smith, Alberta Hunter, Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Etta James and Barbara Morrison are some of the most well-known blues singers in the history of the idiom.
Barbara Morrison: Spontaneous, Never Ordinary and Completely Genuine
One such female with this great classic blues awareness is the dynamic singer Barbara Morrison. Morrison has fueled her growth on the music scene with songs about love in her throbbing multi-octave voice and with an amazing stage presence. Morrison has recorded with some of the finest jazz and blues musicians of her generation, traveled the world performing at jazz and blues festivals and remains a widely respected educator, humanitarian and astute businessperson .
Barbara Morrison’s music has no borders and the lyrics to the songs she sings are spontaneous, never ordinary, completely genuine and have many females in her audiences shouting in agreement. On an upcoming CD titled “By Request, Volume II” she covers some well-known blues including “Gimme One Good Reason,” “At Last” and “Don’t Touch Me,” as well as several original songs Morrison wrote.
On “Down Home Blues” Morrison shouts, “Hey lady, your husband is cheating on us,” exposing a cheating husband with whom she is having an affair to an unknowing wife. “I’m just a girl blowing the blues,” she wails on “Never Make My Move Too Soon.” She's keeping it real and Barbara Morrison’s fans know that.
To increase awareness of this original American art form, Barbara Morrison teaches Ethnomusicology at UCLA where she has been an Assistant Professor for over 13 years. Professor Morrison also hosts her own radio show in Los Angeles, CA where she provides a voice for the blues idiom and promotes its growth and development by offering her services in education, touring, communications and recording.
Through her website at www.barbaramorrison.com you can find more information about Barbara Morrison and a comprehensive listing of her concerts, recordings and humanitarian causes.
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