In the mid-1920s, a form of guitar music evolved from African-American culture that echoed the soul and personality of African-American life. The style evolved from "rags," played with banjos, fiddles and percussion. As the guitar replaced the banjo as the lead instrument and songs were picked from the strings rather than strummed, an energetic voice emerged that began to sweep through the Southeast, and it was called Carolina blues, or Piedmont blues. Piedmont blues differed from the tradition blues that lulled a sad, longing story and picked up the pace, peppy enough for people to dance to it. The sound, because it was played with guitar and After World War II, the electric guitar began to replace the acoustic guitar, and the blues picked up an influence from the 1950 rock 'n roll.

David Holt talks to three talented artists and experiences the whole spectrum of Piedmont Blues. Etta Baker, a well-known artist in the North Carolina mountains, plays old favorites like "Knoxville Rag" and "Careless Love." She also plays a traditional blues song, showing the difference between the type of beat most people associate with "blues" and the ragtime style of Piedmont Blues. She also plays some slide guitar with "John Henry." David also plays his guitar beside George Higgs, another artist who plays the blues in the style of Blind Boy Fuller, a blues artist of the 1930s. George also slides the blues on his harmonica, as David accompanies him. Finally, David introduces us to John Dee Holeman of Durham, North Carolina, who plays the modern style of blues that emanated from the war. Playing his electric guitar in the styles of both Blind Boy Fuller and Lightning Hopkins, John concludes Piedmont Blues with a beat that will get your toes tapping.