Light Swing Blues

History

East Coast blues never existed in isolation from popular dance idioms, and this light-swinging lane shows that connection clearly. Blind Willie McTell, Josh White, Brownie McGhee, Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller, and Buddy Moss all recorded examples where the blues form remains intact but the feel opens into easy swing, anticipating later folk-blues and jazz-blues overlaps.

Defining artists

• Blind Willie McTellSpotifyYouTube
• Josh WhiteSpotifyYouTube
• Brownie McGheeSpotifyYouTube
• Blind BlakeSpotifyYouTube
• Blind Boy FullerSpotifyYouTube
• Buddy MossSpotifyYouTube

Essential listening

• Travelin' Blues — Blind Willie McTellSpotifyYouTube
• One Meat Ball — Josh WhiteSpotifyYouTube
• Sportin' Life Blues — Brownie McGheeSpotifyYouTube
• Diddie Wa Diddie — Blind BlakeSpotifyYouTube
• Truckin' My Blues Away — Blind Boy FullerSpotifyYouTube
• Red River Blues — Buddy MossSpotifyYouTube

Sources

• Music Maker Foundation, “Discover the Piedmont Blues”
• North Carolina Music Office on Blind Boy Fuller
• New Georgia Encyclopedia on Blind Willie McTell
• East Coast blues histories in Smithsonian and revival documentation