Hi John

History makes itself! I agree with you! But the things that happened, happened! But I'm not contending that the blues were invented or developed by any one particular ethnic group. In fact John the 'Blues' like the 'Celts' is probably a myth. I've played acoustic blues for 40 years and the differences between many artist's style and structures of playing are far more different than they are similar! So root blues may describe a geographical area more than a genre.

My thesis is far more specific John, which is that the beat, lyrical structure and format of the delta blues, as performed by Charley Patton and his friends was directly influence in a demonstrable way by NA traditional dances - Patton was a Choctaw Indian and would have been influenced by his traditional culture!
That's what I'm researching. It doesn't diminish any other persons contribution to the development of the blues!

Regards

ColmT