Charley Patton the Founder of the Delta Blues- The Legend Lives On

Though he used to write his name as Charlie Patton,background, yet Mississippi Delta Blues stood out
yet popularly called Charley, is considered as thebecause of its harmonic structure and theme that
father and proponent of the American Delta Bluestalked exhaustively about travelling musicians' life,
genre of music. This style is one of the oldestsexuality and life the delta.  Women also had a part
renditions of blues style of music and hence it madein this style, but only a few made names for
Harley Patton as one of the oldest known figures ofthemselves.
American Popular Music. Said to be been born in theThe Accolades for Charlie Patton and Delta Blues
year 1887 and have died in 1934, Charlie Patton is stillStyle: Accolades even after his Death
considered one of the most influential figures ofIn 2001, Revenant records released a 5-CDs feature
American music.called Screamin' and Hollerin' Blues-
Charley and the Early Years of Delta Blues: The OriginThe Worlds of Charley Patton. This included several
of the Genrereleased and unreleased works of Charlie Patton and
Charlie Patton was born in Hinds County, Mississippihis partners. This became an instant hit amongst the
and had passed most of his life in the Mississippidiscerned music population and such was the magic
Delta. He did most of his work on Delta Blues styleof the genius after so many years, this album
from here and for that reason this style was alsobecame a proud winner of not 1, but 3 Grammy
known as the Mississippi Delta Blues style of music.Awards in the year 2003.
Most of that area was covered with extremelyNot just a musician, a proper showman in himself,
fertile land, yet poverty was rampant. TheCharlie Patton was a charismatic figure who changed
socio-economic condition became the soul of thisthe course of American Popular Music. He was so
genre. The cigar box guitar, guitar and harmonicadown to earth that he gave blues Guitar lessons to
formed the base for this genre's music.the local enthusiasts, and at the same time became a
The Unique style that separated it from otherlarger than life figure with his raw and energetic
country blues: The Differentiating Factorvoice. Stalwart like Bob Dylan to famed musicologist
Although there was not much of a subsequentRobert Palmer have praised the contribution of the
rhythmic difference between Charlie Patton's styleman popularly called Charley Patton and his legend
and other country blues to have originated at thelives on forever.
same time. Most of the areas had the same cultural