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Electric Light Orchestra - Rockaria

It is acknowledged that most of the current fan base came to the genre by way of another artist that was popular in their youth. The British invasion gave new life to the blues in the 1960’s and those artists went as far as bringing the blues greats as opening acts with them when they went on tour. They revered them and they made sure their fans knew where they got their influence. Blues was cool, and the way it was interpreted by these young artists made it current and relevant. During the 1980 and 90’s... brought a whole new fanbase to the genre.

I was having a conversation with Mick Kolassa, Vice President of the Blues Foundation and he used the Analogy of the On Ramp To the Blues. I thought this was a great way to look at how most blues fans were introduced to the genre. Whether it was the British Invasion... I can be pretty safe in saying that the majority of blues fans took some ON RAMP artist to get on the Blues. The artists don’t have to be pure, traditional blues. They just have to be proud to acknowledge their roots and their fans will find their way onto the blues highway where they can discover other artists, old and new.


Electric Light Orchestra - Rockaria
  • Released in: February 1977
  • Duration: 3:14
  • Produced by: Jeff Lynne

"Electric Light Orchestra band used cellos, violin, horns and woodwinds to give their music a classical sound. This was an idea Roy Wood initially had while with The Move, to take rock music in a new direction."

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Location: United States

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