MARK MUMEA
 

For more than two decades, I've been dedicated to studying, performing, teaching, and preserving the music of the earliest electric blues pioneers. What began as a fascination with the recordings of artists like Robert Lockwood Jr., John Lee Williamson, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Floyd Jones, Leroy Foster, and Sonny Boy Williamson II gradually became a lifelong pursuit of understanding not just what they played, but how they played—and why their music continues to resonate more than seventy years later.
 

Through years of listening, research, performance, and experimentation, I've come to believe that the essence of Early Electric Blues lies not in complexity or technical display, but in rhythm, touch, dynamics, space, and musical conversation. Those principles have become the foundation of everything I do, whether performing, teaching, or recording.​
 

PRESERVING A MUSICAL LANGUAGE

Much of what made the earliest electric blues recordings so compelling was never written down. It was learned by listening, watching, and playing alongside other musicians. As styles evolved, many of those subtle musical values gradually became less common.
 

My goal is to help preserve that musical language by exploring the recordings, techniques, equipment, and historical context that shaped the music between 1937 and 1953. Through structured lessons, historical research, live performances, and recorded music, I hope to introduce new audiences to a remarkable period in American musical history.

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TEACHING

The structured lesson series available on this website represents the culmination of years of study and refinement. Rather than focusing on isolated licks or solos, the lessons build from the ground up—developing rhythm, timing, accompaniment, dynamics, and musical interaction before moving into more advanced concepts.

My hope is that these lessons not only help people play the music, but also better understand the ideas and traditions that shaped it.

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PERFORMING

Through Maxwell Street Mumea, I perform Early Electric Blues as a solo artist, duo, or trio, bringing this music to private events, restaurants, wineries, galleries, festivals, educational presentations, and public performances throughout Southern California.

Every performance reflects the same philosophy found throughout this website: small amplifiers, expressive dynamics, thoughtful accompaniment, and respect for the musical language established by the pioneers of electric blues.

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RECORDINGS

Over the years I've released a number of recordings through Devil's Tale Music, documenting my ongoing exploration of traditional blues. These albums reflect the same musical values found throughout this website and offer another way to experience the sound and spirit of Early Electric Blues.
 

Whether through recordings, performances, or educational content, each project represents another chapter in a continuing effort to preserve and share this remarkable music.
 

THANK YOU

Thank you for visiting. Whether you're here to learn, listen, attend a performance, or simply explore the history of Early Electric Blues, I appreciate you being part of the journey.
 

I hope this website serves not only as a resource for musicians, but also as a place where the stories, sounds, and traditions of this music continue to live on.