Texas blues is a distinctive regional style that emerged in the early 1900s, primarily in hubs like Dallas, Houston, and Austin, initially characterized by jazz and swing influences before evolving towards blues rock and Southern rock. Pioneering the style in the 1920s, Blind Lemon Jefferson innovated with jazz-like improvisation and single-string guitar work, earning him recognition as a foundational figure. During the Great Depression, bluesmen migrated to cities, leading to figures like T-Bone Walker, whose electric guitar sound in the 1940s profoundly influenced electric blues and early rock and roll.

The genre continued to evolve through Houston's R&B scene in the 1950s with artists like Albert Collins, and later flourished in Austin during the late 1960s and 70s. This era produced influential guitarists such as Johnny and Edgar Winter, and saw mainstream success in the 1980s with the virtuoso playing of Stevie Ray Vaughan and the Southern rock sound of ZZ Top. Iconic locations like Dallas's Deep Ellum neighborhood were crucial centers for performances and recordings, attracting many legendary blues musicians.