Blues For Dummies - by Lonnie Brooks & Cub Koda & Wayne Baker Brooks (Mixed Media Product)

About the Book

Filled with information on the great blues singers, songwriters and musicians and a list of the most essential blues records of all time, this book takes music lovers on a journey from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis to Chicago and points beyond. The CD features a discussion of the blues by blues guitar legend Lonnie Brooks.

Book Synopsis

Get your mojo working as you take a musical trip from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago's gritty South Side and points beyond with Blues For Dummies, an insightful, toe-tappin', music lovers' guide to the blues. Popular blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks serves as your tour guide through the life and times of the blues, from the acoustic mystique of Robert Johnson and Son House to the urban blues men and women of today: John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, B.B. King, Etta James, Koko Taylor, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and, of course, Brooks himself.

Blues For Dummies travels from sad to glad, with stops along the way at heartache and despair, hope and joy, on the road to great music. Get hip to the different styles and eras of the blues; discover what makes the blues so blue; find out "Who's Who" among four generations of blues musicians; and make tracks to the best blues clubs on the planet with this great, easygoing reference.

From the Back Cover

"An excellent introduction and overview of the blues, America's greatest gift to world culture. The book lays out an incredible amount of information thoroughly and clearly." --John Landis, Director of The Blues Brothers and The Blues Brothers 2000

"This book will open your mind to one of America's greatest treasures." --Robert Cray, Blues Enthusiast

"This is the perfect introduction to understanding a wonderful American music tradition; reading it will make any blues show or blues record even more fun." --Bruce Iglauer, President and Founder, Alligator Records

• Your Ticket to the World of Blues -- the Faces, the Places, and the Music
• Dozens of In-depth Profiles of the Greatest Blues Artists
• True-Blue Recommendations for Building Your Own Classic Collection

Feeling the Blues
This incomparable music lover's guide takes you through the Mississippi Delta, up to Chicago, and to points beyond -- sharing the sights and sounds that have made the blues an integral part of our culture -- and our souls. You'll also get an intimate look at "Who's Who in the Blues." From Bessie Smith to John Lee Hooker to Robert Cray. It doesn't matter if your baby's left ya or your mojo's quit workin', don't get blue -- just get Blues For Dummies.

Rhapsody in Blues

• Distinguish the key ingredients that make up the blues sound
• Identify the different shades of blues &-- from jump blues to electric blues
• Find the blues wherever you go -- venues worth visiting
• Put together your own satisfying collection of blues music
• Make your next party a blues event
• Kick back and enjoy the ultimate collection of blues recordings on the Blues For Dummies CD

About the Author

Lonnie Brooks is a popular blues guitarist and recording artist, playing more than 150 shows annually around the world. He has been performing for more than 40 years and has played with some of the biggest names in music, including B.B. King, Les Paul, and James Brown.

Cub Koda is a guitarist, music historian, and regular columnist for Discoveries magazine. He is also a contributing editor to the All Music Guide to the Blues. As the leader of Brownsville Station, Koda is also known as the writer of their biggest hit, Smokin' in the Boys Room.

Wayne Baker Brooks is a Chicago-based blues songwriter and guitarist. He has played rhythm with the Lonnie Brooks Band and lead guitar with his own band. He is the founder and president of the Blues Island Production Company.