B.B. King
September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015
"The King of the Blues"
Riley B. King, known worldwide as B.B. King, was the most influential blues musician of the modern era. Born on a cotton plantation in Berclair, Mississippi, King's sophisticated guitar style and powerful vocals brought blues music to mainstream audiences across the globe. His trademark vibrato and economical, precise note choices revolutionized blues guitar playing.
King named his guitar "Lucille" after a woman whose affections caused two men to fight, leading to a fire at a dance hall. He nearly died saving the guitar and named every subsequent guitar Lucille as a reminder.
Achievements
-
15 Grammy Awards
-
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
-
Presidential Medal of Freedom
-
Grammy Lifetime Achievement
Essential Songs
The Thrill Is Gone • Every Day I Have the Blues • Sweet Little Angel • Lucille • How Blue Can You Get
Muddy Waters
April 4, 1913 – April 30, 1983
"The Father of Chicago Blues"
McKinley Morganfield, known as Muddy Waters, transformed the acoustic Delta blues into the electrified Chicago sound that would influence rock and roll. Discovered by folklorist Alan Lomax, who recorded him for the Library of Congress in 1941, Waters moved to Chicago in 1943 and plugged in his guitar.
His Chess Records recordings in the late 1940s and 1950s defined electric blues and directly influenced The Rolling Stones (who named themselves after his song), Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, and countless others.
Achievements
-
6 Grammy Awards
-
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
-
Blues Hall of Fame
-
Grammy Lifetime Achievement
Essential Songs
Hoochie Coochie Man • Mannish Boy • Got My Mojo Working • Rollin' Stone • I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
Robert Johnson
May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938
"The King of the Delta Blues"
Robert Johnson remains the most mythologized figure in blues history. Despite recording only 29 songs in two sessions in 1936 and 1937, his impact on music is immeasurable — his intricate guitar work, haunting vocals, and deeply personal lyrics created a template musicians still follow today.
The legend that Johnson sold his soul to the devil at a Mississippi crossroads speaks to the otherworldly quality of his music. He died at just 27, adding to his mystique as the original member of the "27 Club."
Achievements
-
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Early Influence)
-
Grammy Lifetime Achievement
-
Blues Hall of Fame
-
Centennial Song Recognition
Essential Songs
Cross Road Blues • Sweet Home Chicago • Hellhound on My Trail • Love in Vain • Come On in My Kitchen
Stevie Ray Vaughan
October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990
"The Texas Tornado"
Stevie Ray Vaughan single-handedly revived interest in blues music in the 1980s. His explosive guitar playing, combining the fire of Jimi Hendrix with the soul of Albert King and the precision of Lonnie Mack, introduced a new generation to the blues. His 1983 debut album "Texas Flood" went platinum.
After overcoming drug and alcohol addiction in the late '80s, he seemed poised for even greater achievements before his tragic death in a helicopter crash at age 35.
Achievements
-
6 Grammy Awards
-
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
-
Blues Hall of Fame
-
6x Platinum Albums
Essential Songs
Pride and Joy • Texas Flood • Couldn't Stand the Weather • Cold Shot • The Sky Is Crying
Howlin' Wolf
June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976
"The Wolf"
Chester Arthur Burnett, known as Howlin' Wolf, possessed one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in blues history — a growling, howling voice that could shake walls and move souls, matched by a commanding stage presence.
Wolf learned guitar from Charley Patton and harmonica from Sonny Boy Williamson II. His Chess Records recordings, many written by Willie Dixon, became blues standards covered by rock bands worldwide — Eric Clapton called him "the greatest singer of all time."
Achievements
-
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
-
Blues Hall of Fame
-
Grammy Hall of Fame
-
Lifetime Influence Award
Essential Songs
Smokestack Lightning • Spoonful • Back Door Man • Killing Floor • Wang Dang Doodle
John Lee Hooker
1912 – 2001
Master of the boogie, John Lee Hooker's hypnotic one-chord vamps and deep, talking-blues drawl influenced generations of rock, blues, and funk musicians.
Albert King
1923 – 1992
"The Velvet Bulldozer"
Albert King's string-bending technique, played on an upside-down right-handed guitar, influenced Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan alike.
Etta James
1938 – 2012
One of the greatest voices in music history, Etta James bridged blues, R&B, soul, and jazz with equal command, from raw blues shouts to tender ballads like "At Last."
Buddy Guy
1936 – Present
A living legend whose explosive, unpredictable playing style influenced Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan — still touring and recording into his eighties.
Koko Taylor
1928 – 2009
"Queen of the Blues"
Koko Taylor's powerful, commanding voice and her signature song "Wang Dang Doodle" became blues anthems, earning her the crown as the genre's leading female vocalist for decades.
Elmore James
1918 – 1963
"King of the Slide Guitar"
Elmore James's electrifying slide guitar sound — most famously on "Dust My Broom" — became one of the defining tones of blues-rock and influenced slide players for generations after him.
