John Mayall | Artist
John Mayall OBE was an English blues singer, guitarist, organist and songwriter born 1933 in Macclesfield, Cheshire. His father was a guitarist who played in local pubs, and from an early age John taught himself to play the piano, guitar, and harmonica, being drawn to the sounds of American blues players such as Lead Belly, Albert Ammons, Pinetop Smith, and Eddie Lang. Mayall was sent to Korea as part of his national service, and during a period of leave bought his first electric guitar in Japan. Back in England, he enrolled at Manchester College of Art and started playing with a semi-professional band, the Powerhouse Four. After graduation, he obtained a job as an art designer, but continued to play with local musicians. In 1963, he opted for a full-time musical career and moved to London. In 1962 Mayall formed Blues R&B band The Bluebreakers, which included John McVie, and soon scored a residency at London's Marquee club. Mayall obtained his first recording date with producer Ian Samwell, who had written Cliff Richards' debut single "Move It". The band recorded two tracks: "Crawling Up a Hill" and "Mr. James". Shortly after, Hughie Flint took over on drums and Roger Dean took the guitar from Bernie Watson. This line-up backed John Lee Hooker on his British tour in 1964. In April 1965, former Yardbirds guitarist Eric Clapton replaced Roger Dean and Mayall's Bluesbreakers became the hottest blues band in the land, going on to create some of the greatest albums of the British Blues boom. Some of the names that passed through the Bluesbreakers were Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Mick Taylor, Andy Fraser, Dick Heckstall-Smith and Jon Hiseman. The Bluesbreakers released four classic albums; Blues Breakers (1966) which featured Eric Clapton, A Hard Road (1967) featuring Peter Green, Crusade (1967) with Mick Taylor, and Bare Wires (1968) whichh was a jazzier affair, again featuring Mick Taylor. In the late 60's Mayall increasingly spent time in the US, for a period living in Laurel Canyon, in the hills outside Los Angeles. It was here he made his excellent solo album Blues From Laurel Canyon (1968), which featured Mick Taylor and was produced by Mike Vernon. He also made his US debut with the Bluesbreakers at the Newport Jazz Festival on 5 July, and played the Fillmore East, recording the excellent live album The Turning Point. A studio album, Empty Rooms, was recorded with former Canned Heat members Larry Taylor on bass and Harvey Mandel on guitar. From the 70's right up until his last studio album in 2022, Mayall continued to perform and release consistently excellent blues records, with various incarnations of the Bluesbreakers, and as a soloist. In addition to the four Bluesbreakers albums already mention, essential John Mayall albums include Blues From Laurel Canyon (1968), The Turning Point (1969), USA Union (1970), Back to the Roots (1971), and Jazz Blues Fusion: Performed and Recorded Live in Boston and New York (1972). John Mayall passed away on the 22nd of July 2024, at the age of 90, remaining an active musician right to the end. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the musical influence category in 2024, and will be rembered as the "godfather of the British blues."
Artist Website: johnmayall.com
Featured Albums: John Mayall
Related Artists: Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Fleetwood Mac, Mick Taylor, Mark-Almond, Colosseum
