If there's any doubt over St. Louis' place in the history of blues music, St. Louis Bluesweek is about to squash it.

Bluesweek, which began Thursday night with a cocktail reception at Union Station and ends Sept. 5 with the Blues Awards at the Old Rock House, is designed to honor blues musicians past and present who hail from the St. Louis region, organizer Mike Kociela says.

"Back from Scott Joplin to Johnnie Johnson to Chuck Berry, so many musicians came out of St. Louis," he says. "There will always be a great argument over what started when, but ragtime started here with Scott Joplin, and we're major influences in blues and jazz, whether we were first or simultaneous."

Although Bluesweek spans two weekends, the heart of the event takes place today and Saturday in front of Peabody Opera House (formerly the Kiel).

A bustling lineup of shows will take place, mostly from all-star bands made up of popular players who will pay tribute to various legends and styles significant to St. Louis. All of the participating musicians are from the area.

A segment on legends will look at people such as Big George Brock, Bobo Davis and Arthur Williams.

"And who better to be the band leader than Marquise Knox to show there are old ones, but there are some good young ones too?" says John May, the St. Louis Blues Society president who booked acts for Bluesweek.

A focus on the blues harmonica will bring attention to St. Louis' interpretation of that instrument.

"It's a cross between the Delta style and the Chicago style," May says.

Also featured will be the KDHX All Star Blues Brunch at the Grizzly Bear on Sunday; a history panel discussion at the Centene Center for the Arts on Tuesday; a harp workshop at Blues City Deli on Wednesday; and a guitar workshop at BB's Jazz Blues and Soups on Thursday.

"This is just the beginning," Kociela says. "This is going to be important in our city in so many ways. We'll bring people from around the world to our city. I can guarantee that."