John Mayall is dead

British blues legend - John Mayall is deceased (Godfather of British Blues)

Legendary British blues musician and songwriter John Mayall is dead. He passed away on Monday at the age of 90 in his adopted home of California, surrounded by his family, according to a statement on the musician's social media profiles. Since the 1960s, Mayall shaped the blues in Britain like few other artists. The band he founded, The Bluesbreakers, featured many stars over the decades. Even in his advanced age, the influential British multi-instrumentalist and bandleader regularly gave concerts.

Influential Bandleader and Talent Scout

Although he always moved slightly off the mainstream, Mayall, born on November 29, 1933, in Macclesfield, England, near Manchester, is considered one of the most influential musicians in his genre. His passion for the blues and his desire to experiment and push musical boundaries defined his long career. The singer, guitarist, keyboardist, and harmonica player also made a name for himself not only as a talented musician but also as a bandleader and mentor, who nurtured talent and provided them with a platform.

The Bluesbreakers, whose membership changed frequently, became a breeding ground for some of the biggest talents in the British music scene. The later Fleetwood Mac members Peter Green, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood, Mick Taylor, who was the Rolling Stones' guitarist for a few years in the early 70s, and not least Eric Clapton shone alongside Mayall. The debut album "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" is considered a classic.

He taught himself to play various instruments

Mayall's father was a guitarist with a passion for blues and jazz and an extensive record collection, which likely played a role in his development. "I discovered jazz and blues around the same time as boogie-woogie," Mayall told The Guardian. "It all went together for me." In a time when there were no instructional videos on the internet, he taught himself to play multiple instruments.

His professional career did not begin until late. Mayall was already 30 years old when he formed the Bluesbreakers. Before that, he had spent three years as a soldier in Korea and worked as a graphic designer after his art studies. A fortunate side effect: He designed many of his records' covers himself.

Music was just a hobby at first. His friend Alexis Korner, a blues legend himself, convinced the latecomer to make music his main profession and introduced him to contacts in London. From 1963 onwards, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers regularly performed at the famous Marquee Jazz Club in London, where the Rolling Stones had given their first concert a year earlier.

Clapton's entry brought greater recognition

"It was like an explosion," Mayall recalled in an interview with the music portal "Ultimate Classic Rock" about that time in London. "People came from all over the country to make a name for themselves in the London clubs."

The entry of the former Yardbirds guitarist Clapton made the band even more famous. After the success of the 1966 released "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton," which reached sixth place in the British album charts, Mayall released extensively in the following year, publishing three LPs in 1967: "A Hard Road" and "Crusade" with the Bluesbreakers and his first solo album, "The Blues Alone." On "The Blues Alone," he played all the instruments himself, with only occasional support from drummer Keef Hartley, who also worked with the Bluesbreakers.

Since 1970, Mayall gave up the name Bluesbreakers but continued to perform with former members. On his album "Back To The Roots," besides Clapton, Taylor and Hartley, other greats like Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor from Canned Heat or the Rock'n'Roll-Violinist and pioneer, Sugarcane Harris, played. When Mayall called, the stars came. This remained so. On his album "Along For The Ride" from 2001, Gary Moore, Steve Miller, Chris Rea and ZZ-Top-frontman Billy Gibbons collaborated.

Mayall reactivated the Bluesbreakers in 1982 with Mick Taylor, John McVie and Colin Allen for a longer world tour, resulting in a live album. He was intermittently active with the Bluesbreakers. Over 100 different combinations of members reportedly played under his name.

With the high number of studio and live albums, it's easy to lose track. John Mayall released approximately 70 albums with the Bluesbreakers and under his own name. His latest was in 2022, "The Sun Is Shining Down." Many earlier recordings no longer exist due to a fire at his house in the Hollywood Hills in 1979. In 1970, he moved to the USA, where he lived until his death.

Retired from the stage two years ago

John Mayall received the Order of the British Empire in the Buckingham Palace in 2005 and was inducted into the "Blues Hall of Fame" in 2016. His personal life was more stable than the Bluesbreakers' lineup. Mayall was married twice. From these marriages came six children and eventually several grandchildren.

Three years ago, the "Godfather of British Blues," as he was often called, decided to retire earlier. Against the backdrop of the Corona pandemic, he announced he would no longer give tours but would only play occasional concerts in his preferred residence, California. A performance in the California town of San Juan Capistrano in March 2022 was to be his last.

Although John Mayall was born in Macclesfield, England, near Manchester, his music career took him to California, where he passed away at the age of 90.
Known for his passion for blues and jazz, Mayall nurtured numerous musical talents in his band, The Bluesbreakers, based in the United Kingdom.
In the 1960s, California's Marquee Jazz Club became a regular venue for Mayall's performances, following the Rolling Stones' debut there a year earlier.
The Bluesbreakers, under Mayall's leadership, became a melting pot for British music stars like Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Mick Taylor, and Eric Clapton.
The influential collaboration between Mayall and Clapton resulted in the classic album "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton," which reached the top six in the British album charts.
Despite moving slightly off the mainstream, Mayall's experimental approach and extreme talent solidified his position as one of the UK's most influential blues musicians.
With Clapton's departure in 1966, Mayall continued his extensive recording habit, releasing multiple albums in the following year.
After relocating to the United States in 1970, Mayall continued to collaborate with his former bandmates and other music legends, such as Gary Moore and Billy Gibbons.
In his later years, Mayall retired from touring and chose to perform occasional concerts in his adopted home, California, before his death in 2023.