Hi Mackie

This is very helpfully my friend and you obviously know quite a bit about the research process! As many other posters have mentioned, there are many that expound such theories about NA's at the very origin of the blues.

My only wish is yo clinically look at the sources of such theories and assess what evidence exists for such claims!

In order to do this I'm limiting my research questions to five specific areas of research:

(1.) Evidential proof of a direct musical connection between 6/8 time harmony shuffle rhythm and NA traditonal dance.

(2.) Evidential proof of a direct lyrical connection between the 'call and response' pattern found in early blues and NA traditional dance.

(3.) Linked to the rhythm and 'call and response' pattern in 1 and 2 an investigation into the twelve bar structure of the blues.

(4.) An investigation into the origin of Hokum Blues.

(5.) An investigation into the lives of earlier NA bluesmen.

While much unsubstantiated mythology and innuendo exists around this topic, I have yet to find any comprehensive (or peer reviewed) research on this topic.

Thanks for this Mackie, very helpful buddy.

ColmT