Blues Periodicals Collection
Scope and Contents
The Blues Periodicals collection (1994-2014) contains music magazines or periodicals primarily about blues as well as jazz. Also included are three additional music magazines concerning professional recording and sound production technology. The magazines mostly provide national news coverage concerning blues and jazz with the exception of Southland Blues which focuses on blues in Southern California. The magazines usually include music charts, concert coverage, up and coming blues artists, and more. The bulk of the collection consists of the Living Blues and Blues Revue magazine publications.
Dates
- Publication: 1987-2014
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Biographical / Historical
Living Blues was first published in 1970 in Chicago, Illinois by Jim O’Neal and Amy van Singel. The magazine provides fans with insightful, in-depth stories on legendary blues artists as well as artists often overlooked by other blues press[1]. The magazine was acquired by the University of Mississippi in 1983 and is published bimonthly by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture[2].
Blues Revue began publishing in 1991 in Illinois by Bob Vorel who also happened to be the editor, sales rep, writer, and photographer of the magazine at the time[3]. It publishes bi-monthly and focuses on giving musicians and venues from acoustic blues to rock n’ roll a platform.
Southland Blues magazine is the "hub of Blues in Southern California" and began as a small newsletter that was first distributed in Long Beach, California in 1990[4]. After the magazine became more popular, it was distributed to Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties[5].
DownBeat magazine is devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond"[6]. It was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois and has published on a monthly schedule since 1979. The magazine was named Jazz Publication of the Year 2016-2019 and 2021-2022 by the Jazz Journalists Association[7].
The Blues Magazine is a British periodical and "is a bi-monthly slab of literary and visual greatness that celebrates 100 years of blues music - from legends to new faces."[8]
REFERENCES
[1] Living Blues. “About.” Accessed June 30, 2022. https://livingblues.com/about/.
[2] Living Blues. “About.”
[3] neonadmin. “Blues Revue.” Blues Foundation (blog). Accessed June 30, 2022. https://blues.org/blues_kba_winner/blues-revue/.
[4] “Southland Blues Magazine.” Accessed June 30, 2022. http://southlandblues.com/about.htm.
[5] “Southland Blues Magazine.”
[6] “DownBeat Home.” Accessed June 30, 2022. https://downbeat.com/site/about.
[7] JJA Jazz Awards. “Archive,” March 12, 2021. https://www.jjajazzawards.org/archive.
[8] “The Blues Magazine.” Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/TheBluesMagazine/about/?ref=page_internal.
Extent
6 boxes
3.16 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Blues Periodicals collection (1994-2014) contains music magazines or periodicals primarily about blues as well as jazz. Also included are three additional music magazines concerning professional recording and sound production technology. The bulk of the collection consists of the Living Blues and Blues Revue magazines.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in alaphetical order by magazine title.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by intern Priscilla Avitia in 2022. The collection was updated in 2024 by Matthew Maldonado when accurals were added to the collection.
- Title
- Inventory of the Blues Periodicals Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Priscilla Avitia and Lindsay Anderson
- Date
- April 7, 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections Repository
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson CA 90747
310-243-3895
archives@csudh.edu