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May 1, 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.
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- Robert Johnson. Here’s a rock and roll Hall of Famer with a remarkable music career as a blues singer. Much has been said about the legendary Robert Johnson, but the strangest is his secret pact with the devil.
- Howlin’ Wolf. Chester Arthur Burnett, commonly known as Howlin’ Wolf, was a talented harmonica player and one of the greatest blues singers of all time.
- Bessie Smith. Nicknamed the “Empress of Blues,” Bessie Smith was charming and confident. She embodied the black American lifestyle, often releasing songs that highlighted the pain, suffering, and frustrations of minority groups.
- B.B. King. King is a legendary blues singer who’s inspired millions of listeners across different races and ages. He was an incredible entertainer who rose from humble beginnings in the local plantations to achieve international status as a blues legend.
- The Blues Magazine
- Blind Lemon Jefferson: Lone Star State’s blues squeeze. The father of Texas blues cut spiritual sides early on, but it’s his haunting high-pitched vocals on secular material like Black Snake Moan and See That My Grave Is Kept Clean that made him a legend.
- Elmore James: The slide guitar master with a voice drenched in soulful emotion. Influenced by Robert Johnson and known as the “king of the slide guitar”, Elmore James also had an enormously emotive voice that, like Muddy Waters or Howlin’ Wolf, could convey a greater meaning and mood through tone, not necessarily present in the lyrics of a song.
- Stevie Ray Vaughan: Much more than just a guitar god. Given his truly extraordinary talent on the guitar, it’s easy to forget that Stevie Ray Vaughan was a damn good singer too.
- Keith Relf: The singer behind The Yardbirds and all their hits. Yardbirds lead singer Relf was the glue that held the band together, singing hits like For Your Love and Heart Full Of Soul.
Best blues singers: are these the 10 greatest ever blues singers? - Classical Music.
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.
