Search results
- Robert Johnson. King of the Delta Blues Singers, The Complete Recordings, King of the Delta Blues. 5,041 votes. Considered one of the most important pioneers of blues music, his poignant lyrics and expressive playing style have influenced countless musicians.
- John Lee Hooker. I'll Play the Blues for You, Live at the Fox Venice Theatre, Collection. 4,555 votes. See: The Best John Lee Hooker Albums. A unique sound that consists of a dark, pulsating rhythm and raw electric guitar made this individual an integral figure in the development of electric blues.
- Howlin' Wolf. The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions, The Genuine Article, Howlin' Wolf. 4,369 votes. With a deep, gravelly voice perfectly suited for the blues, this influential artist became a driving force behind the genre's development and popularization.
- B.B. King. Let the Good Times Roll, Live at the Regal, Ladies and Gentleman... Mr. B.B. 7,737 votes. See: The Best Albums Of B.B. Synonymous with the blues, this powerhouse performer captivated audiences for decades with his unmatched charisma and fluid, intricate guitar work.
- Bb King – The Thrill Is Gone
- Robert Johnson – Me and The Devil Blues
- John Lee Hooker – Boogie Chillen
- Little Walter and His Jukes – My Babe
- Howlin’ Wolf – Evil
- Robert Johnson – Crossroads
- Blind Lemon Jefferson – Matchbox Blues
- Muddy Waters – Got My Mojo Working
- Etta James – I’d Rather Go Blind
- Big Joe Williams – Baby Please Don’T Go
Producer Bill Szymczyk – yes, the same one who’d make millions a few years later with The Eagles – caused a small revolution when he added a string section to this track, otherwise one of many smooth ballads that BB Kingrecorded in the 60s. The producer had no qualms about polishing King’s sound, recording him with top-flight studio players (instea...
One of the last recordings he made, released on the Vocalion label in 1938, this classic fable about Satan calling in a debt, helped to fuel the long-held myth that Johnson had made a Faustian pact with the devil at a crossroads, exchanging his soul for musical success. The fact that Johnson died in mysterious circumstances not long afterwards made...
Hooker’s biggest commercial success was during the years 1949 to 1951 when he was in his thirties; he put six singles in the US R&B charts, the first of which was “Boogie Chillen,” which went all the way to No. 1. An original tune recorded in 1948, the song represented the minimalist aesthetic that was Hooker’s hallmark; the only instrument on the ...
Louisiana harmonica player and singer Marion Jacobs is better known by his blues sobriquet “Little Walter,” and rose to fame in the 1950s when he racked up 15 hits for Chess Records’ Checker imprint including “My Babe,” which spent five weeks at the summit of the US R&B singles charts in 1955. The tune came from the pen of Willie Dixon, the poet la...
Don’t waste your breath arguing whether Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath invented heavy metal, far as we’re concerned, Howlin’ Wolf was playing it in 1954. Sure, “Evil” is basically a slow blues, but the sheer ferocity with which the band attacks it – not to mention the delicious menace in Wolf’s vocal – account for its influence. Meanwhile, Willie Di...
On a purely musical level, there’s no mistaking the power of this one. Johnson’s intense slide guitar playing was echoed by Duane Allman, Winter, Rory Gallagher and virtually every great slide player of the blues-rock era. The track also attests to the eerie mysteries of the blues. Whether you think Johnson was really selling his soul, or just tryi...
Though his life was short – he died of heart trouble aged 36 in 1929 – Lemon Henry Jefferson (to give him his full name) had a far-reaching impact on how the blues evolved; his wailing, high-pitched vocal style and intricate guitar-picking accompaniment, which is epitomized by “Matchbox Blues,” influenced everyone from Robert Johnson to Robert Plan...
Why does this classic reign over the top of most of these lists? For one thing, few songs ever embodied the swagger and mystery of the blues better than this one. The singer is lovelorn despite the foolproof hoodoo charm in his pocket. And as a million garage bands can tell you, the song just feels great to play. It’s got the same 1-4-5 progression...
Dubbed “Miss Peaches,” Jamesetta Hawkins is more familiar to blues and soul fans as Etta James. James racked up an astonishing 30 hits in the US R&B singles chart between 1955 and 1978. Surprisingly, this tune, regarded as one of the singer’s signature songs, didn’t trouble the charts as it didn’t get a single release; instead, it was relegated to ...
This Mississippi bluesman was famed for playing an unorthodox nine-string guitar and in 1935 he recorded (under the name Joe Williams’ Washboard Blues Singers) “Baby Please Don’t Go,” which became one of the most popular blues songs of all time. Williams accompanied his vocals with a guitar while Dad Tracy played a one-string fiddle and Casey “Koko...
- Brett Milano
- 5 min
- 9 min
- Muddy Waters. McKinley Morganfield, more famously knowns as Muddy Waters, taught himself how to play harmonica as a child. He also took guitar lessons at 17.
- Eric Clapton. A more modern British blues singer and guitarist is Eric Clapton, who rose to fame during his time with a band called Cream in 1966. Clapton eventually went on to pursue a successful career and eventually became a household name all over the world.
- Robert Johnson. Robert Johnson spent his earlier life as a traveling musician until he was scouted by H.C. Speir in 1936. He proceeded to record his songs which easily became the biggest hits at that time.
- Jimi Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix, initially called Johnny Allen Hendrix and James Marshall Hendrix, had an early interest in music and taught himself to play only by ear.
- Muddy Waters. 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.
- Eric Clapton. 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. 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 Vaughan. 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.
- Robert Johnson. A proponent of Delta Blues, many of Robert Johnson’s songs are considered blues standards. From Keith Richards to Eric Clapton, his music inspired many guitar players.
- Muddy Waters. The ‘father of modern Chicago Blues’, Muddy Waters released his first record in 1946 with Columbia Records. Many consider Muddy Waters as the founder of genres such as rock and roll and rock.
- Ma Rainey. By effortlessly blending vaudeville theater with blues performance, Gertrude ‘Ma’ Rainy was truly a pioneer. Her signature deep voice made her an idol for Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, and even Bessie Smith, the next musician on this list.
- Bessie Smith. The ‘Empress of Blues’, Bessie Smith was born in Tennessee in 1894. Before going on her solo venture, she toured with Ma Rainey in 1912. Her career was tragically cut short after she succumbed to injuries in a car crash at age 43.
TOP 100 Greatest Blues Songs Of All Time: Best Blues Music · Playlist · 84 songs · 1.2K likes
People also ask
Who are the most famous blues musicians of all time?
Who is a blues musician?
Who is considered a pioneer of blues music?
Who is the best blues guitarist in the world?
Jun 19, 2023 · Find below our countdown to the 30 best blues singers of all time who made a lasting impression on insatiable listeners. 1. Robert Johnson
