Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Blues Music: Iconic Instruments, Images, and Sounds

One of the most influential styles of American music, the Blues is a living tradition with multiple regional styles. Have a listen with the Sounds of the American Blues and The Roots of Rhythm & Blues playlists from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, and explore our blues-related collection items.


  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 32 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Portrait Gallery 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of American History 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Anacostia Community Museum 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Archives Center, National Museum of American History 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African Art 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photographs 39 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Portraits 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Video recordings 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Posters 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Sheet music 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Archival materials 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Sound recordings 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • digital media - born analog 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Graphic arts 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Phonograph records 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 42 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Americans 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1910s 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1920s 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1930s 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1940s 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1950s 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 2 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 40 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North and Central America 27 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Florida 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Miami 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Miami-Dade County 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Broward County 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Fort Lauderdale 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North America 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 32 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photographs and Still Images 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Currently not on view 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Portrait Gallery Collection 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music & Musical Instruments 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Graphic Arts 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • smithsonianfolkways 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 66 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entertainers 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photography 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Men 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Portraits 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Musical instruments 18 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Singers (Musicians) 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Instrumentalists (Musicians) 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Arts and Culture 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Musicians 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 65 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Excluded:

  • Remove Date: 1990s close

Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith, from the unrealized portfolio "Noble Black Women: The Harlem Renaissance and After"

The Two Kings, Elvis Presley with B.B. King at WDIA Goodwill Review, Memphis, TN

Bessie Smith

Tell Us About Hommage Á Bessie Smith

Lead Belly - "Shout On" [Official Audio]

Jimi Hendrix

Lead Belly - "Careless Love" [Official Audio]

Huddie Ledbetter

The Roots of Lightnin' Hopkins, [sound recording]

Royalty Agreement for "Walking Blues"

Playbill for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Dream Blues; Lost Wandering Blues

Libba Cotten

Josh White, from the portfolio 'O, Write My Name': American Portraits, Harlem Heroes

Huddie Ledbetter

Our Native Daughters - "I Knew I Could Fly" [Behind The Scenes Documentary]

Huddie Ledbetter

Ethel Waters

John Cephas and Phil Wiggins discuss the Piedmont blues style

Eddie "Blues Man" Kirkland, 1989

Bobby "Blue" Bland, 1989

Tuxedo jacket designed by Sy Devore and worn by Nat King Cole in St. Louis Blues

Dave Van Ronk - "Spike Driver Blues" [Live at The Barns At Wolf Trap 1997]

Aretha Franklin, SCLC convention, Club Paradise, Memphis, TN

Taj Mahal, 1989

Saint Louis Blues

St. Louis Blues

1981 Marin County Blues Festival

Brownie McGhee, 1978

Albert King

Oh Daddy Blues [sheet music]

Barbecue Blues Bust

Pinetop Perkins, 1988

Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, 1973


  1. First page First
  2. Previous page Previous
  3. Page 1
  4. Current page 2
  5. Page 3
  6. Next page Next
  7. Last page Last
arrow-up Back to top
Home
  • Facebook facebook
  • Instagram instagram
  • LinkedIn linkedin
  • YouTube youtube

  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
  • Shop Online
  • Job Opportunities
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use