Growing up in Mississippi, McKinley Morganfield (1913 – 1983) played Delta blues in the style of Son House and Robert Johnson.
Later, performing as Muddy Waters, he was recognized as one of the original modern Chicago blues musicians of the late 1940s – early 1950s.
Chicago blues augmented the basic Delta blues ensemble of acoustic guitar and harmonica with amplified guitar and bass, drums, piano, harmonica, and sometimes saxophone.
www.chicagobluesguide.com
Here is a list of Chicago blues musicians
In 1956, as a young teen growing up in Connecticut, I listened to CKLW Windsor/Detroit late at night.
My favorite song was Smokestack Lightning by Howlin’ Wolf.
A bit later, Buddy Guy was one of my favorites.
And of course, although not from Chicago, my all-time blues favorite, BB King (1925-2015)
There are so many great blues musicians. I just know you must have some favorites.
Picking a favorite is very difficult, but Lead belly creeps up to the top of my list. Maybe his bio influences my decision.
https://www.biography.com/people/lead-belly-39541
Love that 12-string sound, Doug
Great post, Doug!
My all time favorite is real sexy: Nina Simone “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl” Puerto Libre (Jan. 24, 2014). Also Bessie Smith originally recorded it in 1931 and this is well worth a listen as well.
My friend Linda says: I love the Blues too. Have liked Bebe King, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, most of my life. My most recent favorite added to the list of classics was/is Stevie Ray Vaughn.
I love Brownie McGee and Sonny Terry too.
My friend Merle likes Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry: https://youtu.be/P6C61sxbjII
So many for me but Howlin’ Wolf is my fave. Also Son House, Junior Kimbrough, Mississippi Fred Mc Dowell, RL Burnside…..
It wasn’t a man. It was Alberta – an African American older onetime nurse’s aide who had sung earlier in life but was found and resumed a singing career in her eighties.
Alberta Hunter? https://youtu.be/BmFtwwCOmmo
Yes! I couldn’t pull that out, but I knew you’d know!
Good choice -thanks, Mary
Son House: https://youtu.be/Wl5BiHw74xU
Junior Kimbrough: https://youtu.be/Kl6ecmvBy4U
Fred McDowell: https://youtu.be/QPZtMFWZT7Q
RL Burnside: https://youtu.be/XXvf12Bi6v8
My friend Bob says: Well, I love the old recordings of Son House and Robert Johnson, but I guess Muddy Waters would get my vote. In more contemporary times, don’t forget Joe Williams singing with the Basie Band. And you should hear Tom Jones do some blues. He’s really good!
P.S. Let’s not forget Bonnie Raitt in the contemporary group of blues players. She’s done maybe more than anyone (Clapton?) to keep blues alive and also to honor the originals.
Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Jeff Beck: https://youtu.be/97MZWlkLpHw
My friend Wally says: Probably Jimi Hendrix.
My friend Chuck says: Although all I can think about is The Blues Brother with John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd, I love blues and all music except hip hop and rap.
Actually you do love all music. Rap and hip-hop are basically rhythmic rantings which generate excitement from fans, not music.
That was my friend Chuck who said that. I actually think some rap (particularly when mixed with melody) is good.
My friend Ted says:I would have to say Muddy Waters, with Robert Johnson a close second.
My friend Barbara likes Muddy Waters
Howlin’ Wolf & Muddy Waters are my fav heavyweight bluesmasters. Fortunately I was able to see them both perform live. Their imfluence upon the emergence of Rock n Roll cannot be overstated. Very honorable mention: Jimi Hendrix (if you doubt this choice then you haven’t heard Red House or Hey Joe lately!)
John Kramer – Betsey’s brother put me onto Jimmy Reed (Bright Lights – Big City). My clock-radio was set to WLIB out of Harlem. “Good Mo-nin’ New York. Wake up Harlem. Pearshape. Pearshape.” I never knew what the pear shape meant. My mother wondered whatever happened to Snooky Lansen and Your Hit Parade!
Jimmy Reed: https://youtu.be/l9xXchxodYg
I have a recording of Odetta singing Midnight Special on a station broadcasting from Fordham U. She gets a little lost but the pianist brings her back. Love it. There were probably 10 people in the audience.
Odetta: https://youtu.be/nL2gCsNEaIU
My friend Dave says: Cab Calloway, although he was not exclusively blues.
https://youtu.be/90qMNhWsCHs
My friend Tom says: BB King is the one I’d listen to the most, but Muddy Waters was probably the greatest.
My friend Joel says: My favorite was Joe Williams. He sang, in his earlier years with Count Basie and Lionel Hampton. Had a great album in late fifties called Everyday I Have the Blues. I wore the thing out.
Joe Williams: https://youtu.be/SVFOcofCLkY
My friend Marianne says: I’M NOT SURE WHO MY FAVORITE BLUES MAN WAS BUT I LOVE KEB MO NOW.
https://youtu.be/OI_GNu8jaSA
My friend Sally says: My favorite album was “Blues From Big Bill’s Copa Cabana,” Chess Records, it featured Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Lightnin’ Hopkins and many others.
https://youtu.be/ac8j5gt1bGw?list=PLKB8aaM0l_Wc3SnKkkVf3i4bnneszut30