10 Most Underrated Blues Musicians Who Were Not Only Great But Also Inspiring And Talented
Are you a Blues fan? Or do you just want to be inspired? Then these 10 most underrated musicians and artists are for you!
1. Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher is one of the most influential guitarists of the modern era. His style was rooted in blues and R&B but he incorporated other influences and styles into his sound. He developed a unique playing style that allowed him to achieve great technical and musical accomplishments while never compromising his passion for what he played. He is considered the greatest guitarist ever.
2. Skip James
Skip was born Nehemiah James in Memphis, Tennessee. He gained recognition in the 1920s and 1930s as a performer at local music clubs and juke joints, and he eventually began recording for Paramount Records in 1931. His unique guitar style earned him the sobriquet “the Father of the Delta Blues”.
3. Albert Collins
What is really exciting about Albert Gene Drewery is his influence on other guitarists. Although he never received a formal education in music, he was one of the finest electric guitar players of the 1960s and 1970s.
He had a powerful playing style and used altered tunings and a capo. His long association with the Fender Telecaster has helped give him the title “The Master of the Telecaster”.
4. Roy Buchanan
Leroy Buchanan was born in Ozark, Arkansas, and was raised there and in Pixley, California, a farming area near Bakersfield. His father was a sharecropper in Arkansas and a farmworker in California.
He went on to describe how growing up in the ’50s and ’60s, he had no choice but to be exposed to the Black Gospel and R&B that permeated American culture. And his love for those songs made him want to learn how to play them and make his own.
He initially showed musical talent playing a steel guitar, then switched to guitar in the early 50s and started his professional career at age 15, performing in the Johnny Otis’ rhythm and blues revue.
5. Peter Green
Peter Allen Greenbaum was born on 29 October 1946. He was a British blues-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. As the founder of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
Fleetwood Mac was formed in 1967 by Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood, and guitarists Jeremy Spencer and Bob Welch before bassist John McVie joined the line-up.
Green’s songs, such as “Albatross”, “Black Magic Woman”, “Oh Well”, “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” and “Man of the World”, appeared on singles charts, and have been covered by a variety of other artists!
6. Junior Wells
He was one of the most influential blues musicians of the mid to late 20th century. After his rise to fame as a session player and then as a leading figure of the Chicago blues scene, he released some of the most influential blues recordings of all time.
He is best known for his signature song “Messin’ with the Kid” and his 1965 album Hoodoo Man Blues, described by the critic Bill Dahl as “one of the truly classic blues albums of the 1960s.
7. Otis Rush
Otis Rush, Jr. (April 29, 1934 – September 29, 2018. was an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.
One of the first bands that captured my attention was The Clash. Their distinctive guitar style, which combined slow-burning and long-bent notes, influenced me to try it myself.
He played guitar and performed as a vocalist and songwriter in the mid 20th century, recording with artists such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and B.B. King. He also recorded with many bands as a solo artist!
Westside Chicago blues singer Willie Dixon has qualities that are similar to those of other 1950s artists Magic Sam and Buddy Guy. His sound became known as Westside Chicago blues and influenced musicians like Michael Bloomfield, Peter Green, and Eric Clapton.
8. Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee (born Graham Anthony Barnes; 19 December 1944 – 6 March 2013. was an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist for the blues rock band Ten Years After.
9. Mike Bloomfield
The early days of blues guitar weren’t always easy, but they did give rise to some incredible talent. In 1953, young blues guitarist Michael Bloomfield sat down to play his first gig with Muddy Waters’ band at a club called the Village Vanguard. From the moment he played, people were taken with him. But that wasn’t all that happened that day. In fact, Michael’s entire life was about to change forever. It all began that evening at The Village Vanguard.
Michael Bernard Bloomfield was a famous guitarist who earned his fame because of his instrumental prowess. He was one of the first popular musicians to garner success without singing.
10. Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
His style of music included blues, R&B, rock & roll, jazz, and gospel. He made records and performed all over the world.
Brown was known for his skills on the guitar, mandolin, violin, viola, harmonica and drums. He is regarded as one of the most influential exponents of the blues fiddle. He has had enormous influence in American fiddle circles.
Brown’s biggest musical influences are Louis Jordan, T-Bone Walker, and Count Basie.His electric guitar style has influenced many blues and rock guitarists, including Albert Collins, Johnny “Guitar” Watson and Guitar Slim.
In conclusion, We all know that blues is a music genre where a singer sings about love, loss, heartache, and pain. Although many people enjoy the music of the blues, not many are aware of the great musicians who have contributed so much to the evolution of this music. In this article, I have listed 10 great musicians who are not only famous but also inspiring and talented.
