Greatest Blues Musician ever?

[Zuni]

Who is the all time greatest blues player, ever?

[swag]

1. Voted for Wolf, just because I like his records best,

but that doesn't mean he's greatest.

Nice list.

[Zuni]

6. There are too many to name

I wish I had room for the Paul Butterfield Band, when it had Mike Bloomfield, Elvin Bishop and Mark Naftalin
Or Peter Green, John Mayall, Albert king ---there are too many

But Wolf is the king. Smokestack Lightnin and Killing Floor are two of the baddest blues tracks ever recorded

[johnnie]

20. Did you see my post about "the most famous"?

I had the privilege of meeting Paul Butterfield about 6 months before he died. I sat around, drank some beers with him and yapped about a lot of stuff, including Mike Bloomfield. It was pretty cool.

[Zuni]

22. no shit. Greatest. Harmonica. Player .Ever

His band's first two albums, the self titled and East-West are among THE baddest recordings ever released. In fact, I am listening to Paul Butterfield's first album right now---the song "Mellow Down Easy"

I am very jealous of you.
Butterfield is the greatest harmonica player ever, in my opinion, and Bloomfield is one of the baddest guitarists to ever jam on a stage.

[johnnie]

29. Here's the quick story

I was down in The Flats in Cleveland checking out a friends band. They were pretty cheesy and I told my buddy I am going to walk around for a bit. He came with me and we passed a place called Peabody's. I hear this harp being played 100 miles an hour and I stopped in my tracks. My friend and I both looked at each amazed, and we checked the marquee. It said "Paul Butterfield". We almost ran in the place, but the show was just about over. They let us in for free and after the show I told my buddy that I know how to get backstage, so he followed. I knocked on the door and someone opened it. Paul was sitting on the couch and I said something about him having a good show. He said 'come on in" and then he pointed to a cooler filled with beer and told us to help ourselves. There were people in and out, and he would yap to them here and there, but we just kept talking music, blues and other shit like that. It was a great experience, and one of the highlights of my life.
I got to yap a bit with Eric Burdon and Alan Price before too, but not for long.
When it comes to "famous" people, I have a different scale of who is famous.

[Zuni]

38. Paul Butterfield is one of my heroes

too bad the drinking is what killed him.

But his harp playing, in my opinion, has never been equalled. The first two incarnations of his band---the bands on the first two albums, with the only changes being the drummers I believe, are probably the best blues band as least as far as high octane improv jams go.

You are a very lucky man. I would rather sit down and drink a beer with paul Butterfield than almost any celebrity.

[progmom]

2. Wolf gets my vote

:hi:

[Zuni]

9. can't argue with the Wolf

have you seen the documentary about him? It is definetly worth watching if you come across it.
:hi:

[arkie dem]

37. As a native Arkie, Wolf gets my vote

[sasquatch]

3. There can't be a best ever

They're all just as good and important to the devolopment of modern American music.

[lenidog]

4. I voted for Johnson

but that is a excellent list and we could debate for the next hundred years over the talent on it and not decide.

[Zuni]

10. The thing I like most about Johnson is how creepy he sounds

in some songs you can hear him playing more than one guitar part simultaneously, that and mixed with his creepy voice and lyrics...and the scratchy hotel room recordings

[lenidog]

28. I know it is just fantastic

I am glad when they switched over to CD that no one tried to be an idiot and clean up the scratchy background.

[bobthedrummer]

5. I voted for Muddy.

But they're all great.

[Zuni]

11. Muddy is probably my personal favorite, at least as a singer

his voice just booms

[Fenris]

7. Lightnin' Hopkins

Or Leadbelly.

Or Blind Willie Johnson.

[MrSlayer]

8. I voted for Buddy Guy because I've actually seen him live.

And the man is brilliant. This is too tough a list to actually have a "best".

[Zuni]

12. I am officially very jealous

[MrSlayer]

16. Here's a list of tour dates for him.

http://www.buddyguys.com/tour.html

Hopefully he's in your area soon. I'll see him again in July.

[KeepItReal]

13. Gotta throw in some Bobby Blue Bland!!

This is a kick for my mama's favorite!!

[Zuni]

15. I just bought the Bobby Blue Bland millenium collection the other day

but was very dissapointed they didn't have his version of "St james Infirmary" on it, which is my favorite of his tracks.

[Blue-Jay]

14. No such thing as a "greatest"

No vote for you!

[Zuni]

17. actually, I agree

some of my very favorite musicians and bands are not on here

[Blue-Jay]

18. Dude - Air Supply did not play blues.

[Radical Activist]

19. Willie Dixon

Just to be contrary and pick someone not on the list. He did write a lot of huge blues classics though, recorded by many of the people on your list.

[Zuni]

21. Yes, I know

He wrote many of Muddy's and the Wolf's best known tracks and played bass on them. At one point he was like the Smokey Robinson of Chess Records.

[johnnie]

23. I love all of them you listed but..

I am going with Willie Dixon for my all-time favorite. His songs are still being played on the radio today.
I'm going to give Leadbelly a honorable mention. I consider him blues.

[Zuni]

24. Willie Dixon probably wrote the most well known tracks

I feel dumb not putting him on the list

[johnnie]

30. Yes but

There are no slouches on your list either.

[samplegirl]

31. I voted for Buddy Guy

I like just about everything hes ever done.

[Radical Activist]

33. So did I.

He's incredible in concert.

[johnnie]

36. I saw him for the first time about a month ago

The day before he was inducted in The Hall of Fame, he was here. He was unbelievable. What a great guitarist and performer.

[Zuni]

40. First time I heard Buddy guy...

was like the first time I met the blues....blown away. There is a blues/jazz local radio station and they played some live in concert Buddy one afternoon when I was driving to Annapolis from Baltimore, where I was living at the time...I rememeber hearing Stone crazy, the First time I met The Blues, Five Long Years, Call it Stormy Monday...and I was speechless. Later that day I went and bought a Buddy guy collection.

[samplegirl]

42. I know the feeling

Everything he does is mag!

[samplegirl]

43. we need to find out who people would pick as far as

newer blues artists! I dont really like the real old blues.

[Zuni]

44. blasphemy

[samplegirl]

45. c'mon

you've got to have few!

[Shell Beau]

25. Gosh this is hard. Robert Johnson is great. Muddy Waters is great.

B.B. is from my part of the woods, so I'm also partial to him. Hmmm, can't decide.

[flakey_foont]

26. No listing for Leadbelly?

[Zuni]

32. I couldn't fit him in

that is why I proivided other.
Leadbelly could also be considered folk, as well. Not a straight bluesman, but an excellent songwriter.

[MrScorpio]

27. Calhoun Tubbs

Greatest bluesman evah!

[Rabrrrrrr]

34. Donny Osmond - hands down!

[Zuni]

35. He was one of the great delta slide players

but got way too commercial after he made it big

[taught_me_patience]

39. Father of British Blues - John Mayall

Not the best but really damn good and way underrated.

[Zuni]

41. A Hard Road---his album with Peter Green is one of my all time faves

Peter Green, in my opinion, is my ALL-TIME FAVORITE guitarist. I have the New re-released album a Hard Road, with all the unreleased songs and it is the shiznitt. There is a Sonny Boy Williamson Song they do that was never released--called Your Funeral, My Trial---it has Mayall on harmonica and vocals, Green on guitar, john McVie on bass and Ansley Dunbar on drums and it is hard as nails.

[Magrittes Pipe]

46. Skip James, asshat.

Of the ones you listed, Patton.