Blues history is dotted with many fantastic musicians, but who are the greatest blues singers of all time? Here is my attempt to present what I think are the best three.
muddy waters
Now of legendary status, he was the first blues “star” and has never been outshone by countless protégés. His thick, heavy voice, relaxed delivery, and assertive, almost solid personality is considered a benchmark for all blues singers. His style was essentially Delta blues adapted to amplification. His imaginative gliding technique and his strong, driving rhythms were forerunners of modern blues.
Waters dominated the Chicago blues scene in the 1950s and, with the help of songwriter Willie Dixon, produced a string of hit records including “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “I Just Want to Make Love to You” and ” I’m Ready”. Those songs are now considered blues classics.
They gave him a series of sensationals, developed the image of Macho, now synonymous with the blues, and allowed Waters to achieve national prominence. His English tours ignited the British blues explosion of the 1960s that became so important not only to blues but to rock music in general. It would be hard to overstate the influence Muddy Waters has had on modern music.
koko taylor
Known as the “Queen of Blues”. Her vocal delivery was powerful and gritty, rivaling her male counterparts. Willie Dixon discovered her in 1962 and recorded her song “Wang Dang Doodle”. She established Taylor as one of the leading blues singers, however, she was unable to promote her commercial success until she signed with Alligator Records in 1975. Eight of the nine albums she recorded for Alligator were Grammy nominated. .
Taylor became the dominant female blues singer, winning twenty-five WC Handy Awards (more than any other artist). After a near-fatal car accident, she appeared in the movies “The Blues Brothers 2000” and “Wild at Heart.” Taylor influenced many singers, including Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, and Shemekia Copeland. She remains the most prominent female blues singer.
Juan Mayall
“The Father of British Blues” is best known for his incredible ability to discover such great players as Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor, yet he has one of the most distinctive voices in the blues. Perhaps because he is not black American he has developed his own style rather than conforming to established norms.
His surprising vocal range, which often breaks into falsetto, is more of a plaintive wail than the usual “deep growl”. He seems to have been influenced by his hero JB Lenoir rather than Muddy Waters/Howling Wolf like many of his contemporaries. . John Mayall is unique among blues vocalists.
