Ten Legendary Blues Guitarists

Guitar players just starting out or learning the guitar often take lessons to learn beginning pieces and then progress onwards. As the love and skill of guitar playing increases it is important to pair the musical learning with a history of where some of these innovative styles came from. In looking at the following ten innovative guitar players it is clear to see a lasting mark on stage performance, recognition for guitarists as soloists, a foundation for rock-n-roll music, and more.

1.       1. McKinley “Muddy Waters” Morganfield is known by many as the father of the Chicago-style blues. So prolific is his music that even those who may not be familiar with guitar players or blues music recognize the name Muddy Waters.

2.     2.  Riley B. King known as artist B.B. King is another influential blues guitarist. The B.B. in his stage name stands for Blues Boy. He once entered a burning dance hall to save his Gibson guitar; the fire was caused by a fight over a woman named Lucille. All of his guitars have since held this name, and Gibson now sells a Lucille guitar model. His guitar may be known as Lucille but many call him “The King of the Blues.”

3.     3.  Aaron Thibeaux “T-Bone” Walker was born in Texas and his stepfather taught him to play the guitar. He is the first blues guitarist recorded playing an electric guitar. Aside from that legendary first he inspired many other great musicians, including B.B. King.

4.       4. Elmore James is a blues guitarist born in Mississippi and holds the title king of slide guitar. Along with his distinctive use of the slide guitar, he is known for his sound. Some call it loud, others remember it as violent. His mastery of the slide guitar influenced other slide guitarists as well as many rock-n-roll musicians.

5.       5. Albert King is called one of the three kings of the blues guitar, with B.B. King and Freddie King. His other nickname was The Velvet Bulldozer since he also earned money driving a bulldozer. The Gibson Flying V guitar was a signature of his, but what was so extraordinary about his guitar playing was the way he used the guitar. As a left-handed musician used to making do, he once built himself a cigar box guitar. Typically he played a right-handed guitar flipped the other way to make it more accessible to him as a lefty.

6.       6. Charles Edward Anderson “Chuck” Berry started out playing the blues as a teenager but was open to adapting other styles including country music. His innovations led to the beginnings of rock-n-roll music. He was one of the original inductees into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. The use of electronic sound effects to recreate the sound of bottleneck blues guitarists is another of his legacies. It is not just his sound but his signature moves while playing that continue to inspire other guitarists.

7.       7.Alonzo “Lonnie” Johnson was born in 1899 in one of the most musical cities in the South, New Orleans. He played several instruments as a child. After winning a blues contest in St. Louis, Missouri in 1925 he became forever known as a blues artist. While he may have disliked the label, the blues guitarists have much to thank Lonnie for. He was the first to play guitar solos, paving the way for future blues guitarists to get their shot in the spotlight.

8.       8. Freddie King, earlier in his career spelled Freddy King, is the last of the three kings of blues. He started learning guitar at the age of 6 in his home state of Texas. He moved to Chicago with his family as a teen and this unique blend of Texas and Chicago-style blues is part of his signature sound. He was willing to follow his intuition and improvise, a big part of his musical legacy.

9.       9.Stevie Ray Vaughn is a blues guitarist from a different music era than the others listed here. He is credited as with the blues revival of the 1980s. His guitar style is considered eclectic, and rightfully so as it was inspired by blues, rock, and jazz music.

10.   10. George “Buddy” Guy is credited as a pioneer of the Chicago-style blues. His guitar playing is known for long solos with a loud, aggressive sound. Some call him the connection from blues to rock-n-roll. He is just as well known for his stage antics like playing his guitar with drum sticks.

Justin Miller is a professional blogger that writes for Jamplay.com. JamPlay is a leading online music educator offering 2,000+ guitar songs online in HD.