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 58 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Portrait Gallery 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of American History 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Postal Museum 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage 7 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
  • Photographs 65 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Portraits 47 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Video recordings 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Posters 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Postage stamps 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
  • African Americans 75 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 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1990s 39 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 67 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • North and Central America 52 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Florida 29 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Broward County 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Fort Lauderdale 16 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Miami-Dade County 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Miami 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Charlotte 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Mecklenburg County 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York City 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection 58 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photographs and Still Images 47 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Currently not on view 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Portrait Gallery Collection 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music & Musical Instruments 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Postal Museum Collection 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design Department 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Music 94 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photography 46 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Instrumentalists (Musicians) 40 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Singers (Musicians) 33 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Entertainers 24 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Musical instruments 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Men 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Portraits 21 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Arts and Culture 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Musicians 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 93 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 35 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Albert Collins, 1991

Huddie Ledbetter

Ethel Waters

John Cephas and Phil Wiggins discuss the Piedmont blues style

Eddie "Blues Man" Kirkland, 1989

Magic Slim, 1991

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

Lazy Lester, 1993

St. Louis Blues

Mr. Q, 1992

1981 Marin County Blues Festival

Brownie McGhee, 1978

Albert King

Charles Brown, 1995

Big Boy Henry, 1992

Oh Daddy Blues [sheet music]

Papa John Creach, 1994

Barbecue Blues Bust

Carol Fran, 1992

Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson, 1992

Etta James, 1991

Pinetop Perkins, 1988

Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, 1973

Sonny Terry, 1978

Mississippi John Hurt

Wendell Holmes, 1996

Jimi Hendrix

Professor Longhair, 1973

Jimmy Johnson, 1991

Ernie Watts, 1992


  1. First page First
  2. Previous page Previous
  3. Page 1
  4. Page 2
  5. Current page 3
  6. Page 4
  7. Next page Next
  8. 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