Background Sources
Online encyclopedias are a good starting point for information on musicians and musical styles, as well as historical context.
- Encyclopedia of the Blues (edited by Edward Komara and Peter Lee), 2005Covers not only the performers, but also musical styles, instruments, regions, record labels and cultural aspects of the blues, including race and gender issues.
- EBooks (Gale) This link opens in a new windowCross-searches many encyclopedias, including Contemporary Musicians and Contemporary Black Biography.
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new windowAnother cross-searchable collection of encyclopedia and reference books.
- Garland Encyclopedia of World Music Online This link opens in a new windowSelect "Volume 3: Music of the United Sates and Canada" to find some useful entries on blues and many social issues relevant to music.
- Oxford Music Online This link opens in a new windowSearches several music encyclopedias, including the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz.
- Encyclopedia of Chicago This link opens in a new windowIncludes entries on Chicago blues, as well as photographs, biographies, essays, art, music and documents on all things Chicago.
