Therese Kristiansen
Blues music is a uniquely American phenomenon rooted in one of the most unfortunate periods of American history. Evolving from the songs sung by plantation slaves, the blues has had a direct influence on all modern music. (Yes, even Rap music.) Because of the blues profound impact on American culture, Trident Academy's Upper School American-based English class is currently studying a unit on the blues. The class is reading essays, first hand accounts, biographies, and musical lyrics related to the blues, as well as writing compositions and original versions of blues songs in the form of poetry. The unit will culminate with the class viewing "Lightening in a Bottle," an entertaining one night history of the blues which was directed by Martin Scorsese. So, next time you turn on the radio, listen closely; if you are really lucky you might hear the ghosts of Leadbelly, Muddy Waters, Bessie Smith, or Robert Johnson singing in the background.
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