Thread: Favorite Blues Artist You Have Seen Live

Growing up in Chicago, I have had the privilege of seeing many living legends of the Blues. Of the scores of Blues artists that I have seen live, my top 5 are:

1) Son Seals -Seals was an amazing guitar player and always put on an excellent show.

2) Otis Rush

3) Koko Tayler

4) Etta James

5) Guitar Shorty

Honorable Mention: Pinetop Perkins -I last saw Pinetop when he was 90 years old. He is still going strong.

Who makes your list?

Off the top of my head, Muddy Waters, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells & Buddy Guy, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Bobby 'Blue' Bland and that is all I can think of. BTW, saw James Brown and his Famous Flames in '62 or '63 thereabouts. Never forget that show if I live to be 100.

Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Lee Hooker, BB KIng and any good foot thumpin' stuff you can think of!

Hound Dog Taylor, Nick Gravenites, BBKing, Clapton, John Hiatt, Reverend Raven and the Chain smoking Altar Boys, Ed Gerhard, Taj Mahal and David Bromberg, but man oh man, the list never ends....

BB King at his club shortly after he opened it during the revitalization of Beale Street.

I guess I should be embarrassed that he's the only one I can remember as I was born, raised, and lived in Memphis for 42 years.

Been listening to Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker since my teen ages. Not to forget masters like Leadbelly, Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson. And many more not mention here. Probably SR Vaughan was the last of the greats. Sadly i never got to his concerts while he played here in Finland.

Buddy Guy several times, Luther Allison, Jr Wells, The Nighthawks and last fall I had Eric Gales in my studio doing session work.

I met Taj Mahal while I was waiting tables. I talked to him for about a half hour about all sorts of things. What a great guy. He and his wife invited me backstage the next night when he played his show. Saw the show but never made it back stage with him.

I also saw Cab Calloway play in Freedom Plaza on July 4th 1994, about a block away from the White House. That was awesome.

I would have loved to have seen Muddy Waters. Unfortunately he died before I had a chance. I did see John Lee Hooker about a year before he died but it was at a large blues fest. He would have been great at a Blues club. There were so many good ones!