Blues shouter - Definition and Overview

A blues shouter is a blues singer, often male, capable of singing with a band. The singer must project, or "shout", to be heard over the drums and instruments of the band. Blues shouting is a major pathway by which jazz music edged over into rock and roll.

Notable blues shouters include:

• Big Joe Turner, whose style changed hardly at all between 1938's "Roll 'Em Pete" and 1954's "Shake, Rattle and Roll".
• Wynonie Harris
• Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, an unusual combination of blues shouter and bebop alto sax player.
• Walter Brown, of the Jay McShann orchestra
• Jimmy Witherspoon, who also appeared with McShann
• Jimmy Rushing, blues shouter with Count Basie.