Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music

Blues as a genre shaped the sound of jazz in the early 20th century and directly led to the creation of rock 'n' roll in the '50s. The scales, chords, and progressions of blues as a musical form can be found in styles from jazz to rock to contemporary R&B.

Documentary Music

Keith David

(Self - Host)

Robert Palmer

(Self - Commentator)

Albert Murray

(Self - Commentator)

Chuck Berry

(Self (archive footage))

Louis Armstrong

(Self (archive footage))

Count Basie

(Self (archive footage))

Big Bill Bronzy

(Self)

Willie Dixon

(Self)

W.C. Handy

(Self)

John Lee Hooker

(Self)

Son House

(Self)

Mick Jagger

(Self)

Louis Jordan

(Self)

B.B. King

(Self)

Charlie Parker

(Self)

Bessie Smith

(Self (archive footage))

Dinah Washington

(Self (archive footage))

Muddy Waters

(Self (archive footage))

Sonny Boy Williamson II

(Self (archive footage))