Expert: George Armstrong - 10/18/2007

Question
who was the first Persian to play the blues music?
name some famous blues musicians?
which instruments were used?

Answer
Hello Rima,
If you consider that there may have been oral renditions of Rumi's or Hafez's poetry since the 13th and 14th century, one might suggest that Persian Blues is an ancient art. The first to play it might be lost to history. Of the modern Persian blues performers, Pouya Mahmoodi is the earliest I know of; he is a guitar player. Rana Farhan is an outstanding blues vocalist that performs in Farsi. Azam Ali also performs the blues. Dariush Eghbali is considered a blues singer, although I don't know much about him.
Famous Blues artists include: B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Albert King and Billy Gibbons, to name a few. In early American Blues, First Banjo and harmonica were used, followed by the the use of the guitar. Thank you for your wonderful questions! Regards, George Armstrong