Ya gotta have about 400 years of oppression, an angst certificate from somebody like BB King, be on parole or just outa Central State (penitentary, not University), be able to play your axe 'til your fingers bleed and your mouth organ until your lips bleed, a woman that done you wrong, and a pickup that...no, wait, that last is for country music.

Oh, yeah, it helps to have a name like "Howlin' Wolf" or "Blind Lemon Pledge" too.