About one hundred years ago, out of an unforeseen fusion of cultures, came a new sound that broke all the rules.

It was a method, of sorts, for exploring those themes in the human experience that were, however common, not spoken of because of the discomfort involved in erecting them into the public consciousness. The blues showed no mercy to preexisting social norms, went against all that was proper and respectable, and really got down to the essence of humanity. Out of this cultural movem...