Top Fifty Blues Musicians

Transcription

1 Top Fifty Blues Musicians (In order of birth date) W.C. Handy ( ) - Blues Musician Considered the "Father of the Blues," W.C. Handy first heard the Blues being played by a lone Bluesman at the railroad depot in Tutwiler, Mississippi, in Handy obviously did not create the Blues, but he is the first person to publish a composition with the term "Blues" in the title and utilizing "blue notes" (flatted thirds and sevenths). This song - "Memphis Blues," published in 1912, along with his famous "St. Louis Blues" two years later, first brought the genre to the mass public. This is the man after whom the Handy Awards (the Blues "Grammys") are named. Mamie Smith ( ) - Blues Musician This is the woman that started it all, as far as Blues on record. Her "Crazy Blues" is considered the first Blues recording ever. The record sold an incredible million copies in the first six months! This success opened the floodgates, as record labels and talent scouts began to scour the country for more Blues singers to record. Gus Cannon ( ) - Blues Musician Gus Cannon bridged the gap between early Blues and the Folk and minstrel styles that preceded it. He was the man, along with his band, Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers, featuring legendary harpist Noah Lewis, that helped start and define the early Jug band style, prevalent in Memphis in the '20s and '30s. Ma Rainey ( ) - Blues Musician Considered the "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey was instrumental in bringing Blues music into the vaudeville tradition. She was a mentor to many of the classic women Blues singers that followed. She had been performing the Blues for twenty years before her first recording in She would go on to record with such Blues legends as Blind Blake and Tampa Red, along with Jazz greats Kid Ory and Louis Armstrong. Leadbelly ( ) - Blues Musician Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Leadbelly, was the first Blues artist to achieve fame with white audiences. Many of his compositions from his extensive songbook have become classics of Folk, Blues, and Popular music. After Leadbelly's release from prison in 1934, Alan Lomax recorded a multitude of his performances for the Library of Congress. One of the first Bluesmen to travel to Europe, his songs "Goodnight Irene," Midnight Special," and "Rock Island Line," among others, were a profound influence on the Skiffle craze in England and the subsequent Blues scene there. Big Bill Broonzy ( ) - Blues Musician Big Bill Broonzy, through the years, was a most versatile performer, being equally adept at solo acoustic Folk-style, Ragtime, and early urban small combo Chicago Blues. He was one of the first artists to spread the Blues overseas, in addition to being a major force and mentor to many fellow Blues Musicians stateside. Broonzy was an exceptional guitarist, fine singer, and exceptional songwriter.

2 Mississippi John Hurt ( ) - Blues Musician This gentle man was an anomaly of sorts in that he was from the Delta region, but his guitar playing had much more in common with the more sophisticated finger-picking of Piedmont style Blues. He recorded a few sides in 1928, but was out of the music business until his rediscovery in He became one of the most beloved of Bluesmen in the '60s Folk-Blues resurgence, influencing a horde of aspiring guitarists in the college and coffeehouse circles. Bessie Smith ( ) - Blues Musician The woman who best defines the term of "classic" Blues singer. She earned the title of "Empress of the Blues" with her sassy, bold songs that earned the respect of both Blues and Jazz artists. The finest musicians performed behind her, helping to create an exceptional body of work before her tragic death. Her swagger, style and strong, passionate voice epitomized what the early vaudeville style Blues was all about. Most women Blues singers point to Bessie Smith as the one who set the standard. Tommy Johnson ( ) - Blues Musician Along with Charley Patton and Son House, Tommy Johnson was one of the pioneering Delta Blues Musicians. His characteristic vocal growl that would rise to an eerie falsetto howl was a big influence on both Jimmie Rodgers (the "Father of Country Music") and fellow Bluesman Howlin' Wolf. His songs' structures, including "Cool Water Blues," "I Asked For Water (She Brought Me Gasoline), "Maggie Campbell" and "Canned Heat Blues," found their way into many other artists' repertoires. Reverend Gary Davis ( ) - Blues Musician In the late '20s, Reverend Gary Davis was one of the main practitioners of the Piedmont Ragtime-style guitar picking, being a great influence on Blind Boy Fuller and many others. His career received a huge boost during the '60s Folk-Blues boom, due to his exceptional guitar technique and thoughtful songwriting. He was a huge inspiration to Bob Dylan,Taj Mahal, Jorma Kaukonen, and Ry Cooder. Rice (Sonny Boy Williamson II) Miller ( ) - Blues Musician Aleck Ford "Rice" Miller was older than the original Sonny Boy Williamson, but decided to take on the same nickname, due to the original's great success, when Miller was holding forth on the famous "King Biscuit" radio show in Helena, Arkansas. Rice Miller's career eventually eclipsed the original Sonny Boy's. Miller influenced such Blues legends as Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter and James Cotton, who all learned directly from him. Outside of Little Walter, probably the most imitated Blues harp player ever. Son House ( ) - Blues Musician Eddie "Son" House was simply the most intense sounding Blues artist of all-time. A contemporary of Charley Patton and Willie Brown, his pioneering Delta Blues sound directly influenced such musicians as Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, and most importantly, Muddy Waters, who cited House as his biggest inspiration. Son's pounding rhythmic guitar and anguished vocals epitomized what the Mississippi Delta Blues was all about and was a window into his tortured soul.

3 Tampa Red ( ) - Blues Musician Hudson Whittaker, better known as Tampa Red, was a prolific recording artist and talented guitarist. His smooth slide guitar style and sly lyrics made him one of the most popular Bluesmen of the early Chicago Blues scene. Earning the nickname of "The Guitar Wizard," Tampa Red penned many songs that have become classics, including "It Hurts Me Too" and "Black Angel Blues" (which B.B. King later reworked as "Sweet Little Angel"). He also helped create what became known as "hokum" with its humorous, double-entendre lyrics. Pete Johnson ( ) - Blues Musician Along with Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis, Pete Johnson was one of the kings of Boogie- Woogie piano. A mainstay of the vibrant Kansas City Blues scene, he often recorded with Blues shouter Big Joe Turner. In fact, the pairing of the two on John Hammond's Spirituals To Swing Carnegie Hall concert in 1938 ignited a renewed Boogie-Woogie craze, which swept the nation. Pinetop Smith ( ) - Blues Musician Clarence "Pinetop" Smithwas one of the most influential Blues figures of the late '20s. His song "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" was the very first song with the term in the title and its lyrics and stop-time arrangement became the template for many subsequent piano Boogie-Woogie workouts. The beloved Pinetop Perkins not only borrowed the style, but also the nickname, keeping the flame burning today. Leroy Carr ( ) - Blues Musician One of the least appreciated Bluesmen today compared to his impact on the music of his time. With his partner, guitarist Scrapper Blackwell, Leroy Carr waxed some of the finest Blues compositions ever while utilizing sly lyrics, a smooth voice and excellent piano work. He was instrumental in implementing a new sophistication and urbane approach to the Country Blues that came before. His "How Long How Long Blues" was just one song that influenced many others, including T-Bone Walker. Roosevelt Sykes ( ) - Blues Musician Roosevelt Sykes' pioneering barrelhouse and boogie-woogie piano playing, along with his smart and fun lyrics, influenced just about every piano player that has ever played a blue note. His huge presence was felt in both the St. Louis and Chicago Blues scenes. "44 Blues," "Driving Wheel," and "Night Time Is The Right Time" are all classic examples of his excellent work. Blind Boy Fuller ( ) - Blues Musician Blind Boy Fuller took what Blind Blake started and became one of the most influential and popular Piedmont Bluesman of all time. A talented, versatile guitarist and expressive singer, he recorded an impressive amount of material over a short period of time. Howlin' Wolf ( ) - Blues Musician Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as Howlin' Wolf, was a Delta musician who waxed some incredible sides in Memphis for Sam Phillips that were an unbelievable mixture of raw and primal Country Blues combined with Jump Blues. After his move to Chicago, and with the help of Willie

4 Dixon's songwriting, Wolf became the main rival of Muddy Waters for domination of the Windy City Blues scene in the '50s, and into the '60s. His gravelly, powerful voice and flamboyant stage presence were incomparable. Robert Johnson ( ) - Blues Musician Robert Johnson took the raw, rhythmic immediacy of the Delta Blues that Charley Patton and Son House began, absorbed the influences and innovations of more sophisticated stylists like Lonnie Johnson, and created the most ingenious blend of Country Blues guitar ever. He was the first guitarist to expertly incorporate boogie-woogie piano bass lines underneath his fingerpicking and slide sound. He lived fast and died young, but after his material was re-released to the world in 1966, his impact was felt across the globe. Big Joe Turner ( ) - Blues Musician One of the premier Blues shouters, Big Joe Turner typified the ebullient sound of Kansas City's Jump Blues sound. His big, smooth baritone voice soaring over swingin' boogie-woogie rhythms that later became a mainstay of the West Coast scene, was a precursor to what would become known as Rock 'n' Roll, as exemplified by his "Shake, Rattle & Roll." Lightnin' Hopkins ( ) - Blues Musician Perhaps the most recorded Blues musician of all time. During his long and prolific career, Sam Hopkins comfortably bridged the gap between acoustic Country Blues and the urban Blues of his home ground of Houston, Texas. With his deep, evocative voice and deft guitar playing, Hopkins always did things his way and was one of the most respected artists of the Blues. Willie Dixon ( ) - Blues Musician Big Willie Dixon's presence was profound, with his multiple roles as bassist, arranger, talent scout, and especially songwriter, playing a huge role in creating what has become known and loved as Chicago Blues. This poet laureate of the Blues wrote a major share of the greatest Blues tunes of all time. Both Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, among many others, benefited greatly from his uncanny ability to craft a song and direct recording sessions. Wynonie Harris ( ) - Blues Musician This man bore the title of "Mr. Blues" with unabashed pride and style. One of the greatest Blues shouters of the popular Jump Blues era of the late '40s and early '50s, Wynonie Harris, helped shape the sound that would become Rock 'n' Roll with his combination of panache, bold sense of humor and sheer attitude. His version of Roy Brown's "Good Rockin' Tonight," along with his stage presence, had a huge impact on a young Elvis Presley, among others. Brownie McGhee ( ) - Blues Musician One of the most beloved Piedmont style guitar pickers and singers. Brownie McGhee, enjoyed a long career that blossomed even greater during the '60s Folk Blues boom. A fine ambassador of the Blues around the globe, he was an important figure both in Europe and in the States, whether he was on his own or with longtime partner, harpist Sonny Terry.

5 Elmore James ( ) - Blues Musician Like his contemporaries from the Delta - Elmore James played a huge role in popularizing electric Chicago Blues in the '50s. His version of "Dust My Broom" has become the standard for driven slide guitar playing. James' anguished vocals and intense songs helped pave the way for anybody who has incorporated a raw, energetic edge to their Rock and Blues. Professor Longhair ( ) - Blues Musician Henry Byrd or "Fess" as he became to be known, was a founding father of New Orleans R&B. His polyrhythmic and rollicking piano lines defined what New Orleans Blues was all about. His songs like "Mardi Gras In New Orleans" and "Tipitina" have become virtual anthems of the Big Easy, leaving their mark on all that followed, including Fats Domino and Dr. John. John Lee Hooker ( ) - Blues Musician One of the most unique Bluesmen ever, only Lightnin' Hopkins may have more recordings among Blues artists. John Lee Hooker's guitar and vocal style was primal, deep and went straight to your gut and soul. This Mississippi Delta Bluesman learned his style early on, mostly from his stepfather Will Moore, and throughout his career that took him to Detroit and Chicago and eventually to the Bay Area; he never wavered from his singular vision. His initial smash hit in 1948, "Boogie Chillen," with its stomping beat, has been imitated by countless Rock and Blues bands ever since. Charles Brown ( ) - Blues Musician The antithesis of John Lee Hooker, Charles Brown helped popularize the smooth, jazzy crooning ballad style of Blues that Nat King Cole pioneered in the '40s. His groundbreaking "Drifting Blues," recorded in 1945 with Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, greatly influenced a bevy of artists including Amos Milburn, Floyd Dixon, and a young Ray Charles. His "Black Night" and "Please Come For Christmas" are great examples of how Brown could create a mood that melted the soul. Albert King ( ) - Blues Musician Albert King played a huge role in bringing Memphis-style Soul into the Blues and popularizing the genre among both Blacks and Whites. His relaxed vocal style, coupled with his intense string bending on the guitar, was an intoxicating mixture that would go far in bringing the Blues to a much wider audience. His guitar style on songs such as his earlier "Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong" and later hits on Stax - "Born Under A Bad Sign" and "Cross Cut Saw" - would find its way into the playing of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, and especially Stevie Ray Vaughan, among many others. Slim Harpo ( ) - Blues Musician James Moore, better known as Slim Harpo, was one of the most popular Blues artists to cross over into the Rock world. His songs "I'm A King Bee," "Baby, Scratch My Back," "Tip On In," and "Tee-Ni- Nee-Ni-Nu" defined the Swamp Blues based out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

6 Jimmy Reed ( ) - Blues Musician Jimmy Reed had more success in crossing over to the Pop charts than any other Blues musician. His lazy, relaxed songs with their infectious rhythm seemed to hit a nerve in the record-buying public during the late '50s and early '60s. His songs landed on the Pop Top 100 chart 11 times. "Baby, What You Want Me To Do," "Bright Lights, Big City," "Honest I Do," and "Big Boss Man" are just a few of his sides that have become standards of the genre. Otis Spann ( ) - Blues Musician Quite simply, Otis Spann is the man that every Blues piano player that has come along since looks to as the standard to live up to. Playing a huge role in helping Muddy Waters define the small Blues combo sound of Chicago in the '50s, Spann's playing was the epitome of how to not only back a singer, but how to add much depth, interest, rhythm and melody to the proceedings. A much-underrated singer in his own right, Otis will nevertheless always be associated with the great songs he recorded with Muddy. Albert Collins ( ) - Blues Musician Known as the "The "Iceman" and "The Master of the Telecaster," Albert Collins, was unique, but also epitomized the Texas guitar slinger. Many guitarists have tried hard, many in vain, to duplicate his signature stinging guitar licks. Coming out of the fertile and exciting Blues scene of Houston in the '50s and '60s, Albert would go on to create a fusion of infectious, horn-driven Blues that was always funky. Just about every Blues band has a Collins style instrumental in their repertoire. John Mayall (b. 1933) - Blues Musician The elder statesman of British Blues, perhaps no one has done more to further the Blues in England than John Mayall, if only for his pioneering efforts there and the fact that so many premier musicians have made their mark in his many lineups. Many illustrious Mayall alumni have gone on to greater fame after their apprenticeship with John. Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor all played with Mayall in the '60s, and later, Americans Walter Trout and Carlos Montoya would both hone their chops with the man. Freddie King ( ) - Blues Musician This extremely powerful singer, guitarist, and performer came out of Texas and first made his mark in Chicago in 1961 with his blend of danceable instrumentals and passionate vocal sides. Freddie King probably has done as much as anyone to attract a younger Rock audience to the Blues due to his fiery and energetic style. "Hideaway," "Have You Ever Loved A Woman," and "I'm Tore Down" are just a few of his classic tunes that have become standards of the genre. Paul Butterfield ( ) - Blues Musician Paul Butterfield was one of the first white musicians to gain acceptance and respect in the Blues scene in Chicago of the '60s. His powerful harp playing anchored his band that also featured Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop, along with ex-howlin' Wolf sidemen, Jerome Arnold and Sam Lay, making the Paul Butterfield Blues Band one of the first integrated bands. Their first two albums proved instrumental in helping bringing the Blues into the mainstream.

7 Johnny Winter (b. 1944) - Blues Musician This incredibly talented guitar slinger from Texas was responsible for first exposing a multitude of aspiring young, white guitarists to the Blues in the late '60s. His first album on Columbia featured both Willie Dixon and Walter "Shakey" Horton and brought an authenticity to the Blues that many other white Blues artists had lacked. Johnny Winter went on to explore a more Rock approach, but came back to the Blues in the late '70s. Winter was responsible for producing the albums that put Muddy Waters back in the limelight, garnering the legendary Bluesman his first Grammy awards. Eric Clapton (b. 1945) - Blues Musician Perhaps no one has turned more guitarists onto the Blues than Eric Clapton due to his huge, worldwide popularity with The Yardbirds, John Mayall, Cream, and his own bands. His tone and style during his time with Mayall has become legendary, with hordes of guitarists snatching up the same equipment that he used in an attempt to recreate his sound. His From The Cradle album gave the Blues a huge shot in the arm in 1994 when it was much needed, giving traditional Blues songs a chance to be heard on commercial radio. Stevie Ray Vaughan ( ) - Blues Musician If there is a person more successful than Clapton in getting the Blues across to the masses, it was Stevie Ray. Vaughan almost single-handedly brought the Blues to the world's consciousness in the '80s. His incredible way of combining Albert King and Jimi Hendrix licks with a fresh fire and attitude spawned countless imitators. He earned the utmost respect from his mentors and his legacy is still felt strongly today. Well, that concludes my list of what I feel are the 50 Most Influential Blues Musicians of all time. Of course, there are many, many deserving people that were left off this list. Just some of the ones that come to immediate mind are Skip James, Guitar Slim, Otis Rush, and Buddy Guy. Several women that have made their indelible mark in the male-dominated world of the Blues include Memphis Minnie, Ruth Brown, and Koko Taylor, not to mention the more Jazz-oriented Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Sarah Vaughn. Sax players are certainly under-represented here as well. Big Jay McNeely is the man who perhaps best personifies the term "Blues honker." Then there are the other artists that certainly have a Blues pedigree, but are better known for other styles, such as Ray Charles who pioneered Gospel-Soul and Fats Domino who is better known as one of the fathers of Rock 'n' Roll. The list has to end somewhere and my list is only one man's humble opinion. Most of all, the making of this list was designed to generate interest in the Blues and the people that created the music, bringing much joy to all of us Blues lovers across the globe for so many years. Don "T-Bone" Erickson is the founding editor of BluesWax. T-Bone may be contacted at blueswax@visnat.com.

8