Smith & Co

In 1977 Bob Dylan told an interviewer, " I still listen to the same old black and blue blues. Guys like Tommy McLennan, Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Maceo, Robert Johnstone, Fred McDowell and Gary Stewart". Dylan also played harmonica on a Big Joe Williams recording session in N.Y. He also recorded songs from Blind Lemon Jefferson, Bukka White and Blind Willie Johnson on his first album.!

Possibly the greatest white exponent of the blues ever has to be Eric Clapton. Through the Yardbirds, Bluesbreakers and Cream, Clapton established himself as the foremost bluesman in the U.K. whilst never losing sight of the fact that it was thanks to the great blues artists of America that he was inspired to develop his playing style.

Janis Joplin started her career trying to emulate the big open notes and shaped simple phrasing of Bessie Smith, but later switched to a more rhythmic style after having heard Otis Redding at the Monterey Pop Festival.

The Rolling Stones took their name from a Muddy Waters song and recorded their first American album " 12x5" at the legendary Chess Studios in Chicago. Just on a note of interest; they recorded 15 songs in 2 days including Bobby Womack's  "It's all over now", their first U.S. hit!

With Jimmy Page on guitar Led Zeppelin couldn't help but be inspired by the blues. The Yardbirds, out of which Zeppelin more or less evolved, was heavily influenced by the blues and having included Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck in the line-up at various stages proved to be the learning ground for what can probably be considered the 3 best British blues guitarists to date.