Photograph of John Lee Hooker with diagram of the evolution of the blues

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A black and white photograph of John Lee Hooker at the “Folk and Jazz Roundtable” at the Music Inn, in Stockbridge, MA. Hooker is shown seated with both elbows on the table and his right hand on his forehead. He leans over a mug, and there are papers on the table next to his left elbow. Behind him, hanging on the wall, is a blackboard diagram of the roots of mainstream Blues. The chart lists "MARCH," HYMN," "RING-SHOUT CRIES / WORKSONG," AND "REEL-JIG" as the oldest influences, with Ragtime, Spirituals, Jug Bands, Dance-games, New Orleans Brass Bands, Gospel, Early Blues, Vaudeville, Coon Shout, Minstrel, New Orleans Jazz, and 12-bar Blues branching out and cross-pollinating into [MAIN STREAM (1920)] Blues. On back at top left is [John Lee / Hooker] and at top right is [M23812-32]. On back at bottom center is [Clemens Kalischer].

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