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Blues is usually described as the sound of racial suffering and feeling sad, 
but this documentary argues that the blues began as a form of black pop music. 
First appearing in the Southern states of the USA around 1900, blues created by 
the poorest people in the richest nation on earth took America by storm. The 
film look at the early years of the blues to discover how Bessie Smith, Blind 
Lemon Jefferson and Charlie Patton used the latest media to bring their music 
to the public. With contributions from Keith Richards, Taj Mahal and Chuck D.

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After 1945, artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker rooted 
the blues firmly in the city, where it contributed to the musical desegregation 
of America by spawning rock'n' roll. As the blues conquered the world and the 
music moved from black to white audiences, arguments developed about what was 
the real authentic blues. Robert Johnson returned from the dead to sell more 
records than any other blues artist. By the 21st century, the blues not only 
retained the earthiness of its roots but was also being celebrated in the White 
House. With contributions from Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt, Seasick Steve and 
Buddy Guy.