With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Source: Amazon.com "Queen of the Blues" by Memphis Minnie

Roundup

9-4-05

Levee disaster warnings circa 1929

"When The Levee Breaks," a Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe song, was later covered by Led Zeppelin: "If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break,/ If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break,/ When the levee breaks, all these people'll have no place to stay."

Read entire article at Amazon.com "Queen of the Blues" by Memphis Minnie