Posted on 07/24/2024 6:29:46 PM PDT by Chode
British guitarist and Bluesbreakers leader John Mayall has died. Mayall’s family announced the news on his official social media accounts, stating that the musician died in his California home on Monday, July 22, “surrounded by loving family.” The statement cited unspecified health issues, but did not reveal an exact cause of death. John Mayall was 90 years old.
Dubbed “the Godfather of British Blues,” John Mayall was a nurturing figure to a slew of musicians at the start of their careers. Mayall formed the Bluesbreakers in the early 1960s after moving to London, and the band’s shifting lineup included a post-Yardbirds, pre-Cream Eric Clapton, who recorded with Mayall on the highly influential 1966 LP Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton. When Clapton left to start Cream, he was replaced by eventual Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green and Mick Taylor, who was ultimately snatched up by the Rolling Stones.
Born in 1933 in Macclesfield, England, Mayall learned guitar, piano, and harmonica while growing up. He also spent time poring through his father’s record collection, which included jazz and blues 78s by the likes of Big Bill Broonzy, Leadbelly, and Brownie McGhee. After studying graphic design at Manchester Art School and serving in Korea, Mayall worked in advertising agencies before shifting focus to music full-time.
Mayall moved to London and formed the Bluesbreakers in his early thirties, playing regularly around his new city. The Bluesbreakers ultimately caught attention from Decca, and the label offered Mayall a contract in 1964. Mayall released his debut album with the Bluesbreakers, John Mayall Plays John Mayall, in 1965. One year later, Clapton replaced the band’s guitarist Roger Dean.
Mayall was a central figure in the narrative of young white British rockers who were fascinated with Black blues musicians from the Mississippi Delta. “The blues fitted in with the early ’60s, the social way of life at the time,” Mayall told The Guardian in 2014. “It happened here, rather than in America, because at the time, the scene in America was racially segregated—over there, never the twain would meet.”
Mayall’s output during the 1960s and 1970s was dense, and the prolific artist continued at this pace for decades. In 2013, Mayall experienced a late-career renaissance when he signed to Forty Below Records, releasing a number of studio albums before his death. It was during this fruitful period that Mayall was inducted into Blues Hall of Fame (in 2016).
Mayall retired from touring in 2022, but continued releasing records up until last year, with the third installment of his Live in 1967 series, which features Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie.
Following the news of Mayall’s death, countless musicians have paid tribute to the late bandleader on social media, including Ronnie Wood, Walter Trout, Mick Jagger, and Eric Clapton.
RIP! I saw him quite a few times back in the day. The first time was with Mick Taylor. John Mayall was one of the most black blues dedicated men that England produced.
Mentor to the Greats...
Again!?
Saw him once, in ‘84 with Mick Taylor at the Roxy in Hollywood. Great show. Excellent blues harp player. Godfather of the Brit blues scene.
“One of the rare recordings of Eric Clapton playing live with Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. It was recorded at the Flamingo Club London on 17 March 1966. The other players were Mayall on organ, Hughie Flint on drums, and future Cream bandmate, Jack Bruce on electric bass:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az7sLKGOUe8
John Mayall was tough. He even went on a smallish tour a few years ago. 2021 I just checked.
Mick Taylor era Rolling Stones was the best. Though mucho credit to Brian Jones before him.
thx...
*
100%
That is John Mayall, Eric Clapton, John McVie Bassist of Fleetwood Mac.
Way back when, a friend of mine said “You gotta listen to this!” Bluesbreakers, Long john Baldry, Yardbirds, Chicken Shack, etc. After that I got into the original blues guys.
Lots of 60’s brit bands did their version of American blues and r&b...a good example was “Spoonful” by Cream. Ten years after also...
I listened to some of his music when I was in my teens.
He was good.
Didn’t know he was a Korean era vet.
prettymuch same same here...
neither did i, so i learn something everyday here...
Some personal thoughts from Eric Clapton about his mentor...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cujG_O4KA4
good stuff...
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