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The blues ballad has been seen as a fusion of Anglo-American and Afro-American styles of music from the 19th century.

Blues ballads tend to deal with active protagonists, often anti-heroes, resisting adversity and authority, but frequently lacking a strong narrative and emphasising character instead.

They were often accompanied by banjo and guitar which followed the blues musical format.

The most famous blues ballads include those about John Henry and Casey Jones.