Hi All

I'm currently researching the origins and history of the Mississippi Delta Blues, from one very specific perspective, which is the contribution that Native American Indian Nations such as the Choctaw and Cherokee made at the very beginning of the blues.

I'm anxious to collate as many ideas and facts regarding this subject, as the central thesis of my research is that the blues was originally a re-interpretation of Native American 'Round and Stomp' dances played in Juke-Joints on the plantations of the Mississippi flood planes.

Obviously, the blues is most associated with the Southern African American communities, a fact which may render this 'thesis' controversial. However I do believe there exists enough evidence to make this case and I am by far not the only one supporting the theory.

My Thesis in a Nutshell

After the American Civil War (1865) the emancipated plantation workers became share-croppers. While the Removals Acts (Starting in 1831) - had clear out most Native Americans to Oklahoma, a small amount of Mississippi Choctaw Indians remained in Mississippi where they worked as share-croppers side by side with their African American neighbours.

During the period after the Civil War, the Plains Indians began to revolt and war with the Union Forces. These were the so called Indian Wars. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was set up specifically to acculturate (assimilate) Native Americans into mainstream culture.

Tragically one of the main devices employed was to outlaw the use Native languages, the practise of Nation American culture and religion. As today Native Indians celebrate their music and culture at Pow Wow, so too did the Native Americans (mainly Chickasaw and Choctaw) indigenous to Mississippi before such culture pursuits were banned.

So, just like 'the prohibition of alcohol' later, the prohibition of Native American culture drove Native musicians under-ground so to speak. In the Juke-Joints (makeshift bars) on Mississippi Plantations, as well as playing all manner of Tin Pan Alley, jigs, reels, hornpipes, spirituals, field hollars, etc. etc., the musicians many of whom were Native American Chowtaw, such as Charley Patton, Scrapper Blackwell and others, played a re-interpretation of 'Stomp and Round' dances with Fife, Whistle, Guitars and Washboards. I believe this early form of blues was originally called 'Hokum' - the word which European settled used to describe the language - 'Hokan-Sioux' spoken why Native Americans. While this was mainly dance music, the 'call and response' pattern which is identical to that of Indian 'Stomp' would originally have been sung in Native Language.

As time went on, some of these lyrics would have been translated into English. One unique characteristic of the blues is the way 'standard lyrical phrases' were used time and time again by different blues musicians. I believe the reason for this was that originally that only a 'finite loop' of original 'hokum' lyrics were translated into English and as the music was mainly dance music, the quality of the lyric wasn't held to be all that important.

When the sound recording industry started in the 1920's however things changed. One of the first 'pop record' markets ever was in the Southern States of America. Virgin companies like Columbia and Yazoo recorded and sold blues music to a mainly African American audience. These were the infamous 'Race Records' - arguably the first pop records ever produced.

Charley Patton was almost a clear generation older than Robert Johnson. While the main appetite was for blues - the recording companies stipulated that in order to get a recording contract (no royalties) a musician would have to sing original lyrics in English, as Native Indian Culture was still outlawed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the companies couldn't risk loosing money on their investments as a result of censorship.

Hence the reason why Robert Johnson became so famous, because as well as being a young skilful player he was arguably one the best and most original lyricist amongst the blues men. Indeed this fact may also had given rise to popular music's obsession with 'originality' - the whole thing about 'a cover band' but being as good as a band that writes it's own stuff. No such prejudice is found in traditional folk music or classical music.

No-one goes to see the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and comes out saying - "Well they were good - but unfortunately they didn't play their own stuff!" Originality seems therefore to be the preserve of 'pop' music?

Lastly, many of the very earliest blues lyrics (Patton in particular) seem to have distinctly Native American Themes and may relate to the 'Trail of Tears' - the removal of Native Americans from their traditional homelands to Oklahoma.

Themes such as 'walking' and 'going home' and 'hound dogs on the trail' not to mention 'rider' the word that young Native Americans used to call a girlfriend, as they would collect them on horse back and take them for a ride.

Finally, I have my own views about the themes of 'the devil' and the 'crossroads' which I'll keep for now!

All Suggestions, Criticisms and opinions welcome guys!

Regards

ColmT