John Mayall, tireless and influential British blues legend, has passed away at 90 years old.

Mayall was believed to have contributed to create this English sound of the blues, urban and rhythm which was a key factor to the revival of blues during the second part of the 1960s.

Jul 24, 2024 12:06 AM

English blues artist John Mayall performs with his group, The Bluesbreakers, on the stage at the Miles Davis Hall during the 42nd Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, on July 7 July, 2008. Sandro Campardo/AP/Keystone hide caption

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Sandro Campardo/AP/Keystone

LONDON LONDON John Mayall, the British blues musician whose influential group known as”the Bluesbreakers was a center of instruction for Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and many more stars, died. He was 90.

Mayall’s Instagram page, which was posted on Tuesday, announcing his death telling followers that the artist died on Monday morning in the house he shared with his spouse located in California. “Health issues that forced John to end his epic touring career have finally led to peace for one of this world’s greatest road warriors,” the blog post read.

The singer is believed to contribute to the development in the development of English version of the urban, blues and rhythms that were Chicago-style, that played a major role during the revival in blues music in the late 1960s. In various time periods in the 1960s, the Bluesbreakers included Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce and Jack Bruce from Cream; Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac; Mick Taylor who played for five years with The Rolling Stones; Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor of Canned Heat and Jon Mark and John Almond who later formed the Mark and Almond Band.

Mayall did not admit when he addressed his media sources that he was not a talent scout, however, his music was born out his love for music that he first encountered through his father’s records of 78-rpm.

“I’m a band leader and I know what I want to play in my band — who can be good friends of mine,” Mayall stated in an interview with The Southern Vermont Review. “It’s certainly an extended family. It’s a very small thing in the real sense. “

A simple, yet time-worn item that will last forever. Although Mayall didn’t get the fame and acclaim enjoyed by his famous bandmates, he was performing in the latter part of the 80s, performing his own rendition of blues from the Chicago blues. The the fact that he was not recognized was a little hurt. He was, in a way, not reluctant to express his emotions.

English blues artist John Mayall performs with his group, The Bluesbreakers, on the stage of the Miles Davis hall during the 42nd Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, on July 7, which is the 7th of July, 2008. Sandro Campardo/AP/Keystone hide caption

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Sandro Campardo/AP/Keystone

“I’ve never had a hit record, I never won a Grammy Award, and Rolling Stone has never done a piece about me,” the singer stated in an interview with The Santa Barbara Independent in 2013. “I’m still a underground musician. “

The blues harmonica legend is well-known for his player, keyboardist and guitar performing, Mayall had a Grammy nomination in the form of “Wake Up Call” which included guest artists Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples, Mick Taylor and Albert Collins. Mayall was again nominated in 2022, for his song “The Sun Is Shining Down.” Mayall also was recognized by the British government Britain with the award of an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2005.

He was chosen to be a part of the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class. The record he recorded in 1966 “Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton,” is considered one of the best British blues albums.

Mayall at one time was asked if he would continue playing in order to fulfill obligations, or show he was able to perform.

“Well the demand is there, which is a good thing. However, it’s not for either of those things, it’s simply for the joy of music,” the singer said in an interview with Hawaii Public Radio. “I am just getting together with my friends and we do a workout. “

Mayall was born on November. 29th of 1933, in Macclesfield just outside of Manchester situated near central England.

Invoking the bluesman with lots of fortune, Mayall stated “The sole reason I am from Macclesfield was that the father I had was a frequent drinker, and Macclesfield was where his favorite bar was. “

He also had a father who played guitar and banjo as well as his recording of the boogie-woogie impressed his son, who was a teen.

Mayall said that the way he was taught how to piano one hand at a particular time in one year, playing left hand and then a second time playing left hand “so I wouldn’t be caught up. “

The primary instrument was the piano however, Mayall also played guitar and harmonica, and recorded in a distinct stretched voice. The only aid was drummer Keef Hartley, Mayall was the sole musician in the 1967 release “Blues Alone. “

Mayall was frequently described as”the “father of British blues,” however when he moved to London during 1962, his intent was to enjoy the booming blues scene, dominated by Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Eric Burdon were among the others who were attracted to the sounds.

Bluesbreakers were a varied group of musicians who were able to slip between various bands. Mayall’s most famous hit was Clapton who quit his group the Yardbirds before joining The Bluesbreakers at the age of 65, mostly due to Clapton was unhappy by their Yardbirds business direction.

Mayall as well as Clapton were both fervent regarding Chicago blues. Clapton later remarked on the fact that Mayall had “the most incredible collection of records I had ever seen. “

Mayall was open to Clapton’s eccentricity. He disappeared for about two months after joining the band and came back later on in the same year including Peter Green being the only newly arrived Peter Green, then left for good in 1966. He joined Bruce to form Cream that became a commercial success, leaving Mayall far behind.

British Blues pioneer John Mayall performs with the group Bluesbreakers at the Deutsche Museum in Munich, West Germany, on Jan. 21 January 1970. Claus Hampel/AP cover caption

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Claus Hampel/AP

Clapton had an interview with the BBC documentary on Mayall in 2003. He acknowledged during the BBC documentary that “to a certain extent I have used his hospitality, used his band and his reputation to launch my own career,”

“I think he’s an excellent musician. I admire and appreciate his determination,” Clapton said.

Mayall recommended Clapton to sing and also advised Green to develop his songwriting abilities.

Mick Taylor, who was the successor to Green in the role of Bluesbreaker in the latter part of the 1960s, was awed by the broad range of latitude that Mayall offered the soloists of his band.

“You’d have complete freedom to do whatever you wanted,” Taylor declared in an interview in 1979 with the journalist Jas Obrecht. “You could make as many mistakes as you’d like and you could also make as many mistakes as you want. “

The album by Mayall during the year the year 1968 “Blues from Laurel Canyon” was a signal for an influx into his native United States and a change in direction. The group broke up in the year 1968. Bluesbreakers played drummers and two guitars.

In the year following the musician released “The Turning Point,” perhaps his most awaited release featuring a standard four-man acoustic band that included Mark Almond and Mark Almond. “Room to Move,” one of the songs on the album, remained a fan favorite throughout Mayall’s later career.

The 1970s witnessed Mayall having a low amount of personal success but still touring and performing over 100 shows a year.

“Throughout the ’70s, I performed most of my shows drunk,” Mayall stated when he interviewed Dan Ouellette for Down Beat magazine in the year 1990. One incident that happened was a dare to jump off a balcony and into a pool that was sailed after breaking his heels, leaving him slouching.

“That was one incident that got me to stop drinking,” Mayall declared.

In 1982, Mayall founded the Bluesbreakers. He hired Taylor and McVie However after two years the group’s members changed. In 2008, Mayall declared that he’d decided to drop from the Bluesbreaker name. Then, in 2013, he was appointed John Mayall Band.

Mayall and the wife to whom he was married a second time Maggie was divorced in 2011 following 30 years of marriage. They had two sons.