The first recording of the blues was in 1895. From blues music came great artists, such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Bessie Smith and others. But the blues might never have been created if it had not been for the influence of hollers, calls, and the changes that occurred in the lives of blacks. It combined the styles of the past with a new type of song. The popularity of the blues marked a new era for black music. Today, the blues is recognized for its influence on other genres of music, such as rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and rap.