2024
John Mayall, the “Godfather of British Blues,” was a major influence on post-’60s rock & roll. His band the Bluesbreakers sired Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac’s rhythm section, among others. His version of blues incorporated rock elements, while keeping the core and the spirit authentically gritty and lowdown. Through his stewardship, the global audience for blues, and the palette for rock, expanded considerably.
Impact
SIGNATURE SOUND
Multi-instrumentalist and singer John Mayall first gained renown in the early ‘60s as a purveyor of amped-up Chicago-style blues. By mid-decade, his groundbreaking Bluesbreakers became a who’s who of young musicians who would define British rock in the late ‘60s and beyond, as Mayall experimented with jazz fusion and funk.
Mayall’s signature tune kicks off his first album, a live collection. He sings, plays organ and harmonica. Future Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie’s debut.
From the Museum
Unique Psychedelic Blues Axe
Mayall used this 12-string Rickenbacker in his mid ‘60s band the Blues Breakers. Its jangly tone distinguished it from traditional blues guitars. “I liked to experiment with different tones and textures in my music,” he said.
Over the years, he mastered the art of modifying and decorating his guitars, often carving out their bodies, adding ornamental wood, silver and turquoise, and finishing them with a thick varnish.
He taught me all I really know and gave me the courage and enthusiasm to express myself without fear or without limit.
Eric Clapton
2024 Hall of Fame Essay
"John Mayall is the godfather of British blues. As a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader, Mayall was a pioneer of blues in England during the 1960s."
– Anthony DeCurtis
Influence
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Big Bill Broonzy
John Mayall
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