John Mayall, the pioneering British bandleader whose mid-1960s blues ensembles served as incubators for some of the biggest stars of rock music's golden era, died on Monday. He was 90.
The death was confirmed in a statement on Mayall’s official Facebook page. The statement did not give a cause or specify where he died, saying only that he died “in his California home.”
Though he played piano, organ, guitar and harmonica and sang lead vocals in his own bands with a high, reedy tenor, Mayall earned his reputation as “the godfather of British blues” not for his own playing or singing but for recruiting and polishing the talents of one gifted young lead guitarist after another.
In his most fertile period, between 1965 and 1969, those budding stars included Eric Clapton, who left to form the band Cream and eventually became a hugely successful solo artist; Peter Green, who left to found Fleetwood Mac; and Mick Taylor, who was snatched from the Mayall band by the Rolling Stones.
A more complete list of the alumni of Mayall’s band of that era, known as the Bluesbreakers, reads like a Who's Who of British pop royalty. Drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie were also founding members of Fleetwood Mac. Bassist Jack Bruce joined Clapton in Cream. Bassist Andy Fraser was an original member of Free. Aynsley Dunbar would go on to play drums for Frank Zappa, Journey and Jefferson Starship.
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As a huge blues fan, I loved his music, RIP.
RIP John Mayall
RIP John Mayall
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: RIP John Mayall
Such an influence on the whole British blues / rock scene. I used to have a couple of his albums, but lost them over the mists of time. A quick MP3 downlad will come to the rescue!
RIP John and thanks for everything.
RIP John and thanks for everything.
Talk is cheap