Although little-heard on commercial recordings after the 1940s, the mandolin played a significant role in the history of blues, with its first use probably dating back as far as that of the more familiar guitar. Throughout the '20s and '30s, the distinctive sound of this little instrument could be heard throughout the South and showed up on several recordings. A number of musicians continued to play and perform blues on the mandolin into the '60s . Today there is raising a new interest in the Mandolin Blues with some very cool mandolin players ( well actually guitar players with cool mandolin skills ).