Blues in Europe

Europe was introduced to the blues by their white performers such as the skiffle bands that originated out of England and the young groups of the Rolling Stones, the Who. the Yardbirds, the Animals, the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clayton and others. During the blues revival of the 1960s, it was however, the black blues people from the United States who went to Europe to re-activate the spirit and interest of the blues to the Europeans. Among them were Willie Dixon, Memphis Slim, T-Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Terrell, Big Joe Williamson, Buddy Guy and a host of others.

Alex 'Rice' Miller (Sonny Boy) Williamson was a local favorite in Memphis, Tennessee, but did not reach his true recognition until he traveled to Europe. In 1961, he recorded "Nine below Zero" with his guitarist Robert Lockwood, Jr. for the Checker Label. And in 1963, he went on tour in Europe with his release or "On My Way Back Home," and was immediately accepted by the European public.

In the 1920s, professional women blues singers Alberta Hunter, Ethel Waters, Gertrude Saunders, Beulah 'Sippie' Wallace and others made an impact with the blues while on tour and in concerts in Europe where the all black shows were warmly accepted. When John Hammond contracted Bessie Smith to do what became her last recording session in 1933, it was for the Parlophone Label in England. The main song that come out of that session was "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out."