The Devil's Music - Episode Guide

It was in the years after slavery ended that the blues began, in the cottonfields, the labour camp barrelhouses and city red-light districts of the Deep South. Including film of Lead Belly, Sam Chatmon, Little Brother Montgomery, Booker White, James Deshay

In the Jazz Age blues became showbiz, and the women singers became stars.

As successive waves of blacks left the South in search of the Promised Land, the blues took root in the industrial cities of the North.

Since the Second World War the blues have survived the transformation of Black America created by the Soul Revolution.

Alexis Korner delves into the soulful world of traditional black American Blues music. Exploring its origins and reviewing unique footage of acclaimed Blues artists including Sonny Blake, Sam Chatmon, Houston Stackhouse and Booker White.

Blues music was also often sung by travelling singers on the American music circuit. Performers such as Laura Dukes captivated on-the-road audiences, and similar Blues performers were also frequently featured in travelling minstrel shows. Alexis Korner continues in his exploration into the soulful world of American Blues music, discovering that Blues songs were often based on the singers' home town.

Alexis Korner looks back at the historical origins of Blues music. He discovers that although there are subtle undertones of protest against African American oppression, these are not direct. The deeper significance of the Blues lies in its deep symbolic message of togetherness and acknowledgement of a shared experience.

Tthe last of four programmes exploring American Blues music. Alexis Korner focuses on electric Blues and Rhythm and Blues - the form that has generally become know as Chicago Blues.