Today, popular music has become big business.
More than ever, fear of financial failure, compels musicians to follow current trends, rather than set them.
As there is little room for expressive niche music styles, it would seem that Blues music "had its day" and is "dying out".
The truth is that Blues music has always struggled to survive while it's fledgling Rock has gone from strength to strength.
From the very beginning it has taken the dedication and effort of a few; Keeping the Blues alive.
During the early 1930's "field" recordings were made in an attempt to preserve Blues from extinction.
John Lomax's recordings made for the Archive of American Folk Song, "discovered" Lead Belly who eventually would record with ARC records.
His songs would later be "covered" by the English "skiffle" artist "Lonnie Donegan" and help transform music and pave the way for the genre saving British Blues phenomenon.
Another song recorded by Lomax was "The House of The Rising Son" later exported to The UK via a version by Josh White and made famous by "The Animals".
The migration of black people to Chicago saw blues music develop as a means to earn some kind of a living.
With little chance of finding work, they would play on street corners for a few coins.
This then slowly spread into the now infamous juke Joints of the period.
As the black community began to establish itself a few Blues musicians began recording exclusively for the African American market.
The music was shunned by the white community.
When artists like Presley diluted it to a rockabillie style in 1954 with "That's All Right, Mama" and "My Baby left me" blues songs by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup the originators were not afforded any recognition.
Along with Presley, early Blues recordings by artists like Muddy Waters; Guitar Slim; Josh White made it across the water to the more accepting British society.
Successful big band (Jazz) musicians began sponsoring black Blues artists like Big Bill Broonzy; Otis Span and John Lee Hooker to tour the UK.
Their influence was profound.
Former jazz band musician, Alexis Korner got together with harmonica player Cyril Davies and started playing during the jazz shows intervals.
Their jams included many musicians who would become founders of the coming R&B movement.
The effect that all of this had on UK musicians was huge, and lit the fuse that exploded into the British R&B scene.
Bands like the Rolling Stones; The Yardbirds; The Animals and Them, all adopted the format of the blues and gave it the harder edge that found instant appeal with British youth.
The UK music industry "boomed" and hundreds of new bands were formed most following the new found "British Blues" style.
In 1963, largely through the encouragement of Korner budding Blues musician John Mayall formed his band "John Mayals's Bluesbreakers" From the beginning John adopted a far more traditional approach than his more commercially successful contemporaries, an approach that he has maintained throughout his 45 year career.
However it was the success of the more commercial R&B artists that formed the "British Invasion" Taking advantage of the opening created by the Beatles, first the Rolling Stones and then Cream in particular, were able to "take the Blues" back to its birthplace and awaken the white US market to the music that it had forsaken.
The US musicians were quick to appreciate the music and a whole generation of stylized American blues inspired bands evolved.
Unfortunately huge popular success is dependent on being "current" and "trendy" and as with all stylized products, the new music became dated and slowly the blues influence began to wane.
Of the original Chicago Blues artists few remain, and with some trepidation blues fans look to a not too distant future when that founding link is gone.
As the music industry goes into deep decline, it seems likely that the Blues will be forced "underground" and return to its original starting point, providing entertainment to niche audiences in the modern equivalent of the "Juke Joint" However, there is a strong if somewhat neglected body of dedicated musicians performing blues in its many manifestations, throughout the world.
And an active society of blues lovers that arrange events and festivals to keep the music alive.
Musicians like Keb Mo; Matt Schofield and Kenny Wayne Shepherd are today's torch bearers of a great music tradition.