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May 16, 2024 · Whether you like Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, or Etta James, there's no denying that they're some of the most famous blues musicians of all time. This list of blues singers ranks the best blues music artists, singers, and musicians, and has been voted on and ranked by blues fans worldwide.
- Muddy Waters
- Eric Clapton
- Robert Johnson
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Jimi Hendrix
- B.B. King
- Albert King
- Buddy Guy
- John Lee Hooker
- T-Bone Walker
Muddy Waters is arguably one of the most iconic figures of the Chicago blues scene. He was known for his deep, dominant vocals and his exceptional harmonica capabilities. Some of his most popular tunes include “Got My Mojo Working” and “Mannish Boy.”
Over the past century, Eric Clapton received worldwide fame with his solo projects and his work with his band Cream. Clapton was one of the pioneers of the new blues movement with his virtuosic guitar style and his integration of psych-rock and blues-rock in his music.
Robert Johnson is often referred to as the “pioneer of recorded blues,” though more specifically, the delta blues. He was said to have sold his soul to the devil for the mastery of blues guitar, and many bands and artists, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Eric Clapton, have gone on to cover his classic songs.
Stevie Ray Vaughn, a Texas native, began playing guitar a the age of seven. At 16, he dropped out of school and joined his first band, Blackbird, before starting Double Trouble and gigging around the state. One of his most popular albums became Can’t Stand the Weather.
Jimi Hendrix taught himself to play guitar as a child, playing in bands and eventually moving to London in 1967 to record his famed album, Are You Experienced? He became an icon for guitarists everywhere with his erratic style and mixture of blues and psych-rock.
B.B. King is often referred to as the “King of Blues.” His sophistication and skill as a frontman, guitarist, and vocalist made him one of the most dominant forces of the mid-20th century. He was rumored to have played342 shows in 1956 alone. He passed in Las Vegas in 2015 at age 89 after one of the longest and most successful music careers of all ...
Albert King was born in 1923 in Mississippi and played drums for Jimmy Reed in the 1950s when he moved to Indiana. In 1953, he moved to St. Louis, where he churned out a ton of great hits, including “That’s What It’s All About” and “Don’t Throw Your Love On Me So Strong.”
Buddy Guy built his first makeshift guitar out of wood when he was only seven. By the time he turned 21, he was playing real guitar with heavy hitters like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf up in Chicago. In 2012, he received a Kennedy Center Honor, celebrating his contributions to American culture.
John Lee Hooker moved from Mississippi to Detroit in his 20s, where he spent a good chunk of his time playing at small dive bars and house parties. His popularity would eventually blossom into an illustrious career as a blues musician, though he wouldn’t release his most successful album until the ripe age of 79 in 1997, entitled Don’t Look Back.
Many call T-Bone Walker THE pioneer of blues music, as he trailblazed the genre with his early uses of the electric guitar. In fact, many say he was one of the first to make a guitar “cry out” and “wail” with his emotional playing style. He is said to be the influence for great musicians such as Eric Clapton and B.B. King.
- The Top Ten. (In order of birth date)
- Charley Patton (1887 - 1934) The man credited with first popularizing the Mississippi Delta blues, Patton was a consummate showman and his singing and guitar playing defined the style that would become known as Delta blues.
- Blind Blake (early 1890s - 1933) What Charley Patton was to Delta blues, Blind Blake was to the Piedmont blues tradition. He was an absolute master of the guitar.
- Blind Lemon Jefferson (1897 - 1929) This Texas troubadour's influence permeated throughout the country through his many travels and recordings. He is credited with being the first recorded artist to utilize guitar solo as fills between his vocal verses.
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- B.B. King. Out of the Three Kings of the Blues: Albert King, B.B. King and Freddie King, we’ll pick one and that will be Riley aka B.B. This is for one simple reason - he truly is The King of the Blues AND he gave us Lucille!
- Muddy Waters. Even if you’re not into blues, you would have heard this name: Muddy Waters. Very few others have contributed so much to the development of old time blues into what became rock and roll.
- Stevie Ray Vaughan. Certainly one of the most notable guitarists of the 1980s, Stevie Ray Vaughn had achieved legendary status long before his tragic death in a helicopter crash.
- Jimi Hendrix. Described as “the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music” by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,what else can we add? Jimi Hendrix transcends many musical genres and it’s hard to classify him as a guitarist of just one category but we strongly feel that he deserves a righteous place within our list of most legendary and famous blues artists of all time.
Dec 20, 2019 · to our listeners, and thousands of you voted for your choices! From the best blues guitarists to the greatest blues singers and songwriters, here's the top 20: 1. Rory Gallagher. Picking up a massive 14% of the total votes, at number one was the late, great, Rory Gallagher.
Mar 25, 2016 · 24) Mamie Smith: The larynx that made history and started it all…. She’s not as famous in modern times as her contemporary, Bessie Smith, but Mamie made history as the first African-American artist to cut a commercial blues record. In that sense, she can be considered the true mother of the blues.
