Sam Jimenez – Discover The Blues
Musicopedia Media – 2025
ISBN: 979-8-218-74616-2
133 pages
Sam Jimenez authored and did the artwork for this illustrated history of the blues. Madman Sam has been a blues fan for his entire life. He is a musician and author, wrote over 1,000 songs, served as President of the Cascade Blues Society in Portland, Oregon, and was on the board of the Blues Foundation.
Jimenez wrote the book ten years ago. Mixing his artwork with some AI assistance, he generated over 160 illustrations that fill the book. Every page features at least on piece of artwork. The book is intended as an introduction to the blues for ages 12 to 100+, so there is something in this for anyone.
Mixing humor and his knowledge of the blues, Jimenez presents to us everything the reader needs to know to understand what the blues are, where it came from, and how it evolved. Sam talks about the electrification ad amplification of the blues and how it gave rise to rock and roll.
Then we learn about the blues revival that occurred as part of the folk music renaissance in the 1960s. The audience grew as white music fans began to embrace the blues. Then the blues hit Hollywood and films brought the blues to an even wider audience with films like The Blues Brothers. Then the 1980s gave us more recognition for the blues as main stream artists like Stevie Ray Vaughn and developed new audiences to savor the blues. The 1990s and new millennium ushered in even more artists and fans as the internet and technology made music even more approachable. He even notes the blues concert at the White House where President Obama joined in the fun and sang “Sweet Home Chicago” with the all star band who played for him.
The book concludes with the blues most important era– TODAY! Jimenez covers all the facets of blues to be had, from festivals to broadcast media to blues societies and to the Blues Foundation and more. He tells the reader it’s up to them to enjoy and help the blues live on.
It’s an enjoyable read. For seasoned blues fans there is not a lot of surprises here, but it’s still enjoyable to said through the fun text and great artwork that make the book flow along rapidly. It’s a great introduction to the blues for new fans and it would make a great present for kids and grand-kids. I enjoyed the book and compliment Jimenez for his efforts to make the blues more accessible to an even wider audience. Well done!
