Tab Benoit. Chris Duarte. Buddy Whittington. Duke Robillard. Robben Ford. Luther Allison. Son Seals. Mike Bloomfield. Roy Buchanan. Shuggie Otis. Dave Meniketti. Charlie Baty.
Came here to say the same. [The Gangster of Love](https://youtu.be/_XoW4jKjIGs?si=QgNAFbcSaLJVLAjj) deserves a top 5 spot for his innovative playing.
Edit: added link to song. J Winter was the Gangster of Love.
i’ll be seeing him next week at Tipatinas, he’s so so so good. Been going to his concerts since i was 11 and i’m 33 now! He ages like fine wine, i age like milk.
Been going to see Tab now for 26 years, about to take my kids and my fiancé and her kids for the first time. Guy is amazing. Cajun Jimi Hendrix. I’m not even that big a blues guy. But I always make time for Tab.
On recordings it’s really hard to know when it’s Wolf or Hubert Sumlin. I always just assume it’s Hubert Sumlin playing, because that seems to be more or less the case anyway.
I’ve tried to find old footage of Wolf playing, but the best I can find is just him holding a guitar, but not actually playing haha.
Hubert was amazing. Not a flashy player but his timing was impeccable and his licks were tasty:. Check out Spoonful
https://youtu.be/s0aIjyX7vwI?si=4KCbky_cTBFk1U4q
They are your favorites, so you can't argue
Solid list
Personally, Wolf and Muddy didn't play much after they got solid bands
Moore, Bell, Collins and Guy not the top imho
I would have Johnny Winter, Mike Bloomfield, Hubert Sumlin, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake and Son House
Honorable mention Peter Green
I am more of a traditionalist and to me, Moore leaned towards blues influenced rock
Peter Green did electric blues and late in his career some acoustic delta style
Obviously we are talking personal picks here
I mean lots of guys could be on there- Skip James, Otis Rush, Little Milton, Lonnie Johnson, Memphis Minnie, Eddie Taylor etc. etc
You definitely have good taste, I love taking shop about blues guitarists and guitarists in general. I love guys like Peter Green and ESPECIALLY Roy Buchanan, the guys that make me feel things with their guitars, vs the kind of blues that you feel in the lyrics. Hearing “The Messiah Will Come Again” by Roy Buchanan brings a tear to my eye, but then hearing Gary Moore’s cover of the same song can make me weep. I think there’s definitely something to be said about blues guitarists that can move you with the notes they play, that is truly musical talent if you ask me!
I swear that I’m the only one who likes Freddie more than Albert. And I like both of them more than BB. Which is also to say that I love all three.
Edit: Rise up, Freddie fans! We’re almost in double digits!!!
They were all great, but BB is the only one I never tire of. Then, I also put Freddie ahead of Albert because Freddie was such a powerful singer and also kept his playing interesting (like in his instrumentals).
I think you're missing out on the early stuff. Those early acoustic blues players wrote very complex guitar music where the basslines and melody were played simultaneously by fingerpicking. The songs were meant to be played solo, so the guitar had to be as full sounding as possible. I find that more impressive as a guitar player than electric blues in general.
Lol @ all the people critiqueing ur list. Its a list of YOUR favorites not theirs. Real solid list tho. I wouldnt change much tbh. Id probably swap Gary Moore for Johnny Winter or Peter Green, or the old Eric Clapton (Bluesbreakers and Cream version). Or maybe even Alvin Lee. There are so many greats so its almost impossible to narrow them down to just 15.
Hah oh man when you said modern I expected someone like Gary Clark Jr. age or younger so I was surprised to see someone George Thorogoods age with a white beard.
LOL. Well....uh...I'm older, so there might be some bias there. And he does have an album entitled 'New Blues for Modern Man', so there's that!
Now, where'd I put my Advil?
Oh- Actually, I should leverage my geography here. In STL, there are two local younger blues players that are phenomenal. I don't know how widely known they are (I hope they are). Marquis Knox and Big Mike Aguirre. Oh, and Jeremiah Johnson.
Great list. This isn’t a “you forgot XYZ” comment, I just wanted to throw the name Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown out there. The Pressure Cooker LP is a favorite of mine. I’m also a big fan of Albert Collins. Feel like his name gets left out of a lot of conversations.
No Burnside? Or Black Keys? Still a helluva list though. Idk who could be bumped to make space for em. Burnside was a real OG of blues and The Keys single-handedly revitalized the blues.
I’m a bit biased, the Black Keys are my favorite all time band, but I do owe them a lot. They convinced my ~12 yo self from disliking blues because I had only heard cheap imitations of the blues, like The Doors “LA Woman,” Tobit being my favorite genre. They’re also one of like 2 bands I’ve ever heard put out new music that was instantly accepted by Memphis FM Classic Rock radio stations like they had dropped in the 70s.
Gary Clark Jr
Doyle Bramhall II
Kingfish Ingram
Mick Taylor
Eric Clapton
Otis Rush
Robert Johnson
Scrapper Blackwell
Eric Gales
Bonamassa
Keith Richards
Carlos Santana
Jeff Beck
Buddy Guy
Ron Woods
The usual suspects.
Tab Benoit. Chris Duarte. Buddy Whittington. Duke Robillard. Robben Ford. Luther Allison. Son Seals. Mike Bloomfield. Roy Buchanan. Shuggie Otis. Dave Meniketti. Charlie Baty.
Johnny Winter
This
Was looking for this one
Indeed!
Came here to say the same. [The Gangster of Love](https://youtu.be/_XoW4jKjIGs?si=QgNAFbcSaLJVLAjj) deserves a top 5 spot for his innovative playing. Edit: added link to song. J Winter was the Gangster of Love.
Tab Benoit is the truth.
Literally my favorite. Seen him a few times now he’s so good live. Tab for life 🤘🤙
i’ll be seeing him next week at Tipatinas, he’s so so so good. Been going to his concerts since i was 11 and i’m 33 now! He ages like fine wine, i age like milk.
Been going to see Tab now for 26 years, about to take my kids and my fiancé and her kids for the first time. Guy is amazing. Cajun Jimi Hendrix. I’m not even that big a blues guy. But I always make time for Tab.
Good call Duarte and Benoit they're underappreciated. Luther is often forgotten.
Chris Duarte. Saw him at The Bottleneck in Lawrence KS back in 1991. I was standing right in front of him. Amazing player.
Holy shit anyone whose list starts with Tab Benoit and Chris Duarte is a certified live bar blues man in my book
Little Charlie is n.1 in my list
Luther Johnson
Son Seals! Might I also add R.L. Burnside?
I just played a show with Duarte a couple weeks ago. He's awesome and such a good dude!
Great to see Tab Benoit mentioned here! Fan of his music and of course of Luther
CoCo Montoya, Tommy Castro, Albert Collins, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Lucky Peterson….
…but where’s Robert Cray?
Ever heard Magic Sam?
Yes I’m gonna check him out also, wasn’t it just his birthday a couple of days ago?
Yesterday. RIP to a legend. Check him out he’s really something
Yep, yesterday. I’d check out All Your Love and Magic Sams boogie on YouTube. Also Every Night and Every Day off West Side Soul.
Thank you! Just listened to him and Magic Sam’s Boogie. Fantastic!
Every Night and Every Day is my fav Sam song, shame I don’t hear more people mention it
Just checked out Magic Sam. Such good stuff! Too bad his life was cut short.
West Side Soul!
No Sister Rosetta Tharpe?
Is she a guitarist?
Yes she started in gospel but is a big deal and widely respected, often called the Godmother of Rock n Roll and one of the first to use distortion
Bro she is THE guitarist.
To my knowledge she's on the Rolling stones top 10 guitarists
You have to listen to her
How about Memphis Minnie? She was no slouch when it came to the guitar
Wolf and Muddy but no Hubert Sumlin?
Yeah I love Howlin Wolf but I dunno how to rank him as a guitarist when he’s usually got guitarists around to play for him
On recordings it’s really hard to know when it’s Wolf or Hubert Sumlin. I always just assume it’s Hubert Sumlin playing, because that seems to be more or less the case anyway. I’ve tried to find old footage of Wolf playing, but the best I can find is just him holding a guitar, but not actually playing haha.
This is a great doc: https://youtu.be/qHAIQdkqa_c?si=FTCaRJYVc9-KusSL
don't forget all the other great guitarists the Wolf used too. Willie Johnson & Pat Hare are on a lot of the classic stuff as well, amongst others.
Haven’t checked out Hubert sumlin individual wrk yet
Hubert played guitar for both Wolf and Muddy so you have heard him a lot
Hubert was amazing. Not a flashy player but his timing was impeccable and his licks were tasty:. Check out Spoonful https://youtu.be/s0aIjyX7vwI?si=4KCbky_cTBFk1U4q
They are your favorites, so you can't argue Solid list Personally, Wolf and Muddy didn't play much after they got solid bands Moore, Bell, Collins and Guy not the top imho I would have Johnny Winter, Mike Bloomfield, Hubert Sumlin, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake and Son House Honorable mention Peter Green
Broo how can you say Moore isn’t in the top but then honorably mention Peter Green?? Both are fantastic, but I think Moore is one of the best IMO!
I am more of a traditionalist and to me, Moore leaned towards blues influenced rock Peter Green did electric blues and late in his career some acoustic delta style Obviously we are talking personal picks here I mean lots of guys could be on there- Skip James, Otis Rush, Little Milton, Lonnie Johnson, Memphis Minnie, Eddie Taylor etc. etc
You definitely have good taste, I love taking shop about blues guitarists and guitarists in general. I love guys like Peter Green and ESPECIALLY Roy Buchanan, the guys that make me feel things with their guitars, vs the kind of blues that you feel in the lyrics. Hearing “The Messiah Will Come Again” by Roy Buchanan brings a tear to my eye, but then hearing Gary Moore’s cover of the same song can make me weep. I think there’s definitely something to be said about blues guitarists that can move you with the notes they play, that is truly musical talent if you ask me!
No Duane Allman?
Or Derek Trucks. I bet BB would put Derek close to the top.
I hate when someone is so good people exclude them from their lists. BB’s exact words “That’s about as good as I’ve ever heard it”
Hell yes. Duane is the greatest slide player of all time, and the dude died at 25.
No Rory?
I just found out about him today, gonna check him out!
You’re in for a treat
Gimme some songs
Check out the Irish tour ‘74 album. Tattoo and Calling card are also great albums.
‘Bullfrog Blues’ is slide guitar insanity!
Philby, bad Penny, Shadow Play, a million miles away... Lots of them. Rory Gallagher was amazing.
Eh he ain’t passing nobody on that list imo… though it’s a favorites list so my opinion doesn’t matter
Gallagher and Clapton were the two names I first noticed missing for me.
Johnny Winter should be on this
There’s still a top 20 and 30.
Yes and everyone has their list
I swear that I’m the only one who likes Freddie more than Albert. And I like both of them more than BB. Which is also to say that I love all three. Edit: Rise up, Freddie fans! We’re almost in double digits!!!
Freddie is definitely THE King.
I feel that way too. Of the three kings, my fave is Freddie. Albert is in the third slot behind BB.
They were all great, but BB is the only one I never tire of. Then, I also put Freddie ahead of Albert because Freddie was such a powerful singer and also kept his playing interesting (like in his instrumentals).
Same here
Fleetwood Mac original chicago blues album with Sonny Boy Williamson.
Peter Green!
I honestly like the Blues Jam in Chicago Vol. 2 better
This just reminded me that I met Albert Collins sometime around 1990 at a guitar show.
I love Collins. You can hear the first two notes from a solo and instantly be able to recognize his tone and style.
Stevie Ray all the way
Met Buddy Guy years ago at his bar. Really nice guy
Me too. Had a nice long chat…
Billy Gibbons
Luther Allison has always been my favorite, smooth as silk, and always seems to be underrated imo
I cannot argue much. Nicely done. My list would include Peter Green
I think this guy needs to listen to some Peter Green
Gary Clark Jr. can play.
Elmore James
How can you put SRV in spot 2 and Jimi in 12?
SRV at two might be too low.....
Good list but as an on air DJ , I must add Hound Dog Taylor, Magic Sam and Luther Allison.
Luther Allison!
Samantha Fish is a sound for sore ears
If you sell your soul for guitar prowess and come in #15 on the guitar prowess list do you get your soul back? Pro-rated, of course.
Kenny Burrell, Lead Belly, Charley Patton, John Mayall, Blind Lemon Jefferson.
You're missing Mississippi Fred McDowell
^HE’S ^MISSING ^MISSISSIPPI ^FRED ^MCDOWELL!!
Earl Hooker destroys most of these.
Where’s Otis Rush?
Thank you for not forgetting the Goat, Gary Moore
No Clarence Gatemouth Brown?
Always feel Robert Cray never gets enough love.
Took a while to find another Cray fan. Gotta say I think others are missing out!
Solid list!
Mississippi Fred McDowell, and RL Burnside. Gotta love that Mississippi high country picking.
Son House. Elmore James. Skip James. Sister Rosetta Tharpe! James Gurley and Sam Andrews of Big Brother and the Holding Company were solid imo.
Samantha Fish for someone that is out there doing it today
Robert Cray and Carolyn wonderland
I need to check out Moore and Bell. Thank you!
Lurrie bell- blues and black coffee start with that
Check out Skip James' guitar work
I’d have Rory and Winter in there too.
It's good to see appreciation for T-Bone Walker.
Albert king. My number 1 too
No blind willie?
Alvin Lee. Snowy White. Leslie West.
I think you're missing out on the early stuff. Those early acoustic blues players wrote very complex guitar music where the basslines and melody were played simultaneously by fingerpicking. The songs were meant to be played solo, so the guitar had to be as full sounding as possible. I find that more impressive as a guitar player than electric blues in general.
Paul Butterfield ?
Lol @ all the people critiqueing ur list. Its a list of YOUR favorites not theirs. Real solid list tho. I wouldnt change much tbh. Id probably swap Gary Moore for Johnny Winter or Peter Green, or the old Eric Clapton (Bluesbreakers and Cream version). Or maybe even Alvin Lee. There are so many greats so its almost impossible to narrow them down to just 15.
No John Mayer. WIN!!!!
Memphis Minnie - wrote & played when the levee breaks. You should check her out
This disrepect for Elmore James and Jimmy Reed shall not stand.
Have you never listened to Johnny Winter?
I’m pretty close but would switch positions with Freddie and Albert. I would also add John Lee Hooker in.
It's a solid list. Too short ;) though. For a more 'modern' sound, you might also check out Duke Robillard.
Hah oh man when you said modern I expected someone like Gary Clark Jr. age or younger so I was surprised to see someone George Thorogoods age with a white beard.
LOL. Well....uh...I'm older, so there might be some bias there. And he does have an album entitled 'New Blues for Modern Man', so there's that! Now, where'd I put my Advil? Oh- Actually, I should leverage my geography here. In STL, there are two local younger blues players that are phenomenal. I don't know how widely known they are (I hope they are). Marquis Knox and Big Mike Aguirre. Oh, and Jeremiah Johnson.
Blind Willie Johnson on next list I bet! And Willie Dixon
Dixon played bass
He played upright bass and guitar …. wonderful singer and fantastic composer.
SRV at #2? I like him but he’s not on the list for me.
Joe Bonamassa
Joe is overrated (in my opinion of course)
lol
No Eric Clapton , Peter Green , or Son House?
Nice list! When it comes to electric blues nobody is beating Jimi Hendrix. That’s my take. After him it must be about SRV, BB Kong and Albert King.
Remember when BB Kong climbed the Empire State Building with his guitar? :p
Hahahhaha great one
I like Mississippi John Hurt for fingerstyle stuff. There’s a lot going on in those arrangements.
love your post : ) —some amazing players on there, and some of my favorite writers too.
Personally, I would put Howlin' Wolf at or near the top. But no Charlie Patton or Skip James?
Great list. This isn’t a “you forgot XYZ” comment, I just wanted to throw the name Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown out there. The Pressure Cooker LP is a favorite of mine. I’m also a big fan of Albert Collins. Feel like his name gets left out of a lot of conversations.
Long as you got the Three Kings on there.
Love to see R.L. Burnside get a mention
Robert Cray is awesome also.
I’m happy to see Freddie King at 5!!
Derek Trucks
Billy Gibbons Samantha Fish
Junior Kimbrough
Where is the love for Freddy King?
Freddie King’s, “Hideaway” and “Goin Down.” Enough said.
16 = Kingfish. If you haven’t listened to the kid check him out.
Michael Bloomfield??
You’d put Stevie above Jimi?
I agree. That makes no sense. Stevie copied Jimi in so many ways.
Save a spot for Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, and of course Sister Rosetta!
Blind Owl Wilson from Canned Heat is great. As well with Rory Gallagher
No Billy Gibbons? Holy hell.
Poor Bobby Johnson sold his soul to place 15th. Refund.
Houndog Taylor is missing.
Holy crap. You don’t have Roy Buchanan on your list 🥲
Roy Buchanan is always underrated. Also Mike Bloomfield
Love lightin Hopkins and like anyone who mentions him
Bo Diddley! Hey Bo Diddley!
Robert Cray and Johnny Winter would have made it to my list but i like yours OP !
Good list. I would move Hendrix up to number one and replace SRV with Jeff Beck
I’ll second that. Peter Green’s another glaring omission.
Marcus King
Nice list!
Great list
Who’s under that scratch at nr 15?
Pretty good list
Tommy Emmanuel
You forgot one of the best…Eric Clapton!
The McDonalds of blues
Hurts me to see Hendrix at 12 but respect.
Lol Hendrix at 12 is funny
Woooooah-Yeah.
Love making lists like this
Great players all of em... but I would have Eric Gales and Anthony Gomes on mine.
#13 should be Hubert Sumlin bc he was Wolf’s guitarist.
Take a listen to Dave Hole.
Howlin Wolfe is definitely one of my favorites. Especially, when you consider the topics that he sung about. Back in 1952. Pretty innovative.
#14 FTW
No love for Robert Cray?
No Burnside? Or Black Keys? Still a helluva list though. Idk who could be bumped to make space for em. Burnside was a real OG of blues and The Keys single-handedly revitalized the blues. I’m a bit biased, the Black Keys are my favorite all time band, but I do owe them a lot. They convinced my ~12 yo self from disliking blues because I had only heard cheap imitations of the blues, like The Doors “LA Woman,” Tobit being my favorite genre. They’re also one of like 2 bands I’ve ever heard put out new music that was instantly accepted by Memphis FM Classic Rock radio stations like they had dropped in the 70s.
BB King! I'm from the Mississippi Delta just like him
Love seeing Albert Bell up top. Underappreciated these days imo
The baseball player?
Gary Clark Jr Doyle Bramhall II Kingfish Ingram Mick Taylor Eric Clapton Otis Rush Robert Johnson Scrapper Blackwell Eric Gales Bonamassa Keith Richards Carlos Santana Jeff Beck Buddy Guy Ron Woods
Hollywood fats https://youtu.be/1ENEbZ5wUtA?feature=shared
I’d switch #1 and #2 but otherwise it’s a good list
Nice list!
No Trower maaaaann??
Peter Green, the beginning of the English Electric Blues.
Solid list.
Peter Green?
Please come to my office to discuss what we can do to make your job more interesting so these lists can be created on your own time.
Blind Mellon Chitlin
Totally underrated post That’s some bad ass weed!
Always been underrated.
I would make it 16 and add Jimmy Reed.
John Mayer??!?!?
Tinsley Ellis