Electric Blues Masters (Part 1 of 3)
Like most beginning bloggers I was struggling with what might be a good idea for my very first post. I thought about going back and reflecting on icons like Robert Johnson and W.C. Handy. They were incredible human beings who motivated so many people. However, my influences come from people inspired by these delta bluesman. When I thought about this for a moment, I realized I had my first post …
I decided to create a 3 part series that really emphasized my first music impressions, as opposed to giving a history lesson that has been written many times over about this historic time in music. If I explained more about me and where I was during the mid to late sixties perhaps this could set the tone for the rest of the blog posts to follow. So I hope you enjoy reflecting back with me and hopefully you can add some comments of your own.
In the middle of the night I was once again listening to those blues. (It helped on account of that darn dog) The soulful sound of The Butterfield Band’s album East West would be softly wailing into the night. The album was never successful commercially, but it was critically acclaimed. It would be an album that would be embedded into my mind until this day. I’ve listened to it several times lately, and considering this album is also over 40 years old, it surprisingly sounds fresh and unique today. I’ve enjoyed it enough that it helped inspire this blog.
When you look back and think of all the major influences when it comes to the electric blues in the mid to late sixties, you cannot ignore what Jimi Hendrix brought to the music scene. Not usually known as a blues player to the general public, there was no doubt to many of the musicians who played with Hendrix that he had a great blues feel. He was influenced by musicians like Albert King, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, and to a certain extent Clapton. Johnny Lee Hooker himself always considered Hendrix as a blues player.
