Blues Music Artists

CLARA SMITH

Clara Smith was one of the first of the Blues Divas, who dominated the market for ‘race music’ in the early 20s, when recording opportunities first opened up for African American artists. Known as the ‘Queen of the Moaners’, Clara’s voice was actually light and sweet, but she first used it to express her inner…

Sonny Landreth

Combining his wicked side-guitar work with a fretting and chording technique, and a whole bagful of right hand tricks with finger-picking, hammering and a heavy thumb-pick, Sonny Landreth brings a unique style to his Southern Blues. Also known as ‘The King of Slydeco’, Sonny’s playing has strong zydeco and Swamp Blues roots, but his expansive,…

PETE SEEGER

Pete Seeger was part of a politicised, multi-cultural music community in New York after WWII, that played a important rôle in the popular fight against injustice, not just in America, but all over the world. His live and recorded performances, his songwriting and his political activism made him famous and his collaborations with other musicians,…

JONNY LANG

Many young guitarist love to play the Blues, but few do it with the passion and authenticity of Jonny Lang. With a voice that sounded like a veteran when he was still of school age and a stinging solo guitar style that was straight out of Chicago, the kid made a big impact when first…

EDDIE ‘Playboy’ TAYLOR

Phenomenal Chicago side-men like James Cotton, Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy, Earl Hooker and Otis Spann spent years backing the legendary Bluesmen with very little recognition until late in their careers, and Eddie ‘Playboy’ Taylor’s talents were similarly unheralded outside guitar specialist circles. His superb rhythm playing on all Jimmy Reed‘s records gave them a swinging dance-able…

JOOLS HOLLAND

There are not many big bands gigging regularly in Britain these days, but The Rhythm and Blues Orchestra often goes on tour and thrills audiences wherever they go. The band is the brainchild of the versatile pianist and broadcaster Jools Holland, whose BBC programmes are the place to find Blues and Jazz legends, up-and-coming new…

JULIUS DANIEL

Julius Daniels was an early Piedmont Blues singer with a rich, deep, clear voice who made some important records when field-recording units were combing the South in the 20s looking for talent. He recorded seven tracks for the Victor label during two sessions in Atlanta during 1927, with ’99-Year Blues’ being the best known and…

CHARLEY LINCOLN

Charley Lincoln was the recording name of Charley Hicks, the elder brother of Robert Hicks, who is better remembered as ‘Barbecue Bob‘. Born in 1900 in Lithonia GA, Charley was taught guitar by Curley Weaver‘s mother Savannah and as young men, Curley, Bob and Charley were part of a loose collection of musicians who played…

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR

The Blues springs from some unlikely places these days, and a genteel English suburban neighborhood might seem pretty unlikely. It’s as far from the Delta as you could get, and when you hear blistering Blues licks and heart-rending vocals coming from a pretty girl-next-door type who would look more at home on the cover of…

ANDREW ODOM

Andrew ‘Big Voice’ Odom is a largely undiscovered gem of a Blues singer who plied his trade around the Chicago scene for many years, supplying his soulful vocal lines on many great performances by the èlite guitarists on the club circuit. His rich tone and superb timing might have made him a star, but he…