1.0Harvard Gazettehttps://dev.news.harvard.edu/gazetteharvardgazettehttps://dev.news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/author/harvardgazette/The evolution of the blues — Harvard Gazetterich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="O9dsb42qDQ"><a href="https://dev.news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2007/02/the-evolution-of-the-blues/">The evolution of the blues</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://dev.news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2007/02/the-evolution-of-the-blues/embed/#?secret=O9dsb42qDQ" width="600" height="338" title="“The evolution of the blues” — Harvard Gazette" data-secret="O9dsb42qDQ" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script>
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Paul Oliver, probably the world's foremost scholar of the blues, first heard African-American vernacular music during World War II when a friend brought him to listen to black servicemen stationed in England singing work songs they had brought with them from the fields and lumber camps of the Deep South. Oliver was enthralled by the rhythm and drive of the music and the spontaneous interweaving of harmonies, and wanted to hear more. His fascination led him on a 60-year quest that has included numerous field trips through the American South interviewing, recording, and photographing blues musicians.