By John Morthland, eMusic ContributorFor years, the Chitlin' Circuit - the network of mostly-Southern, mostly-rural clubs where black artists performed from the 1930s into the '60s - has been an elusive element in music history, often referred to but… more »

By John Morthland, eMusic ContributorQuick, name all the major blues stars you can think of who aren't guitarists. Applying the term "major star" liberally, there's Marcia Ball, Dr. John and Pinetop Perkins on piano; Kim Wilson, Carey Bell, Charlie… more »