The old country blues singers that we know of were mostly pros, which I take it to mean that they were the best of their generation. Given that they performed in acoustic settings, they had to be able to play and sing loudly in order to heard, and to be successful. So, not only was there a selection for best appeal and talent, but maybe more importantly, a selection for performers with the best volume.
Performers today just don't have the same requirements. If you play or sing quietly, using a microphone, a pickup and an amp will often allow you to get away with singing quietly and introspectively. Although everyone has some natural ability to sing, singing the blues like the people we admire is a technique that has to be learned. Without that kind of training and learning, it's hard to duplicate the wide open, full-throated, field holler sound of a Son House.
Performers today just don't have the same requirements. If you play or sing quietly, using a microphone, a pickup and an amp will often allow you to get away with singing quietly and introspectively. Although everyone has some natural ability to sing, singing the blues like the people we admire is a technique that has to be learned. Without that kind of training and learning, it's hard to duplicate the wide open, full-throated, field holler sound of a Son House.