A blues singer is a musician who performs a style of music known as the blues. This genre originated in the African American communities of the Deep South in the United States during the late 19th century. Blues music often expresses themes of sorrow, love, and hardship, using a distinctive 12-bar structure and specific chord progressions. Blues singers typically accompany themselves with instruments like the guitar, harmonica, or piano. Notable blues singers include B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Etta James, who have significantly influenced the genre and inspired many other music styles, including rock and roll and jazz.