Jess

Koko Taylor: The Unstoppable Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor was the most dominant female voice in Chicago blues for nearly half a century. Born Cora Ann Walton on September 28, 1928, near Memphis, Tennessee, she arrived in Chicago with almost nothing and built a career that earned her 29 W.C. Handy/Blues Music Awards, a […]

Albert Collins: The Iceman and His Fender Telecaster Legacy Albert Collins (1932-1993) earned his nickname “The Iceman” through ice-cold guitar tones and song titles, but his playing burned hot with intensity. Unlike the warm, sustained tones favored by most blues guitarists, Collins carved out a distinctive sound using a Fender Telecaster tuned to an unconventional

Lightnin’ Hopkins: The Prolific Houston Blues Legend Sam John Lightnin’ Hopkins (1912-1982) was one of the most prolific blues musicians in history, recording over 1,000 songs across four decades. Born in Centerville, Texas, Hopkins became the defining voice of Houston blues—a raw, improvisational style rooted in country blues but electric in execution. His influence stretched

Blind Willie McTell: The Powerful Story Behind His Blues The twelve-string guitar rang out on Atlanta’s Decatur Street throughout the 1930s and 1940s. One musician, Blind Willie McTell, remained a constant presence there. Moreover, he played with a fingerpicking technique that made fellow guitarists stop and listen. His fluid, syncopated style created the illusion of

Elizabeth Cotten: The Powerful Story Behind Her Music Elizabeth Cotten stood in front of college audiences in her seventies. Her fingers moved across the guitar strings in an unusual pattern. She played the instrument upside down and backwards. Her thumb picked the melody on the bass strings. Her fingers played the bass lines on the

Blind Boy Fuller: The Ultimate Guide to His Genius Blind Boy Fuller stood on the corner of Durham’s tobacco warehouses in the 1930s. His National steel-bodied guitar rang out with a distinctive metallic tone. His fingers danced across the fretboard in intricate ragtime patterns. Workers streaming from their shifts dropped coins in his cup. They

The Ultimate Guide to Reverend Gary Davis Reverend Gary Davis stood on Harlem street corners through the 1940s and 1950s. His powerful voice rang out with gospel songs. His guitar work was unlike anything most passersby had ever heard. The blind street singer created a polyphonic sound using only his thumb and index finger. He

Etta Baker: The Ultimate Piedmont Blues Guitar Genius Introduction Etta Baker stands as one of Piedmont Blues’ most influential guitarists. She played for nearly ninety years. However, the world didn’t discover her genius until she was 43. Her two-finger picking style influenced Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Moreover, she helped define what

Memphis Minnie: The Guitar Queen Who Beat the Boys at Their Own Game In 1933, Big Bill Broonzy walked into a Chicago nightclub for a guitar contest against Memphis Minnie. The prize was a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of gin. Broonzy was Chicago’s reigning blues king, but when Minnie finished playing, the crowd

Dive into the world of Blind Lemon Jefferson, the Father of Texas Blues, and discover his profound influence on American music. Click to unravel his story!

17 Modern Blues Artists You Need to Hear Right Now The blues has never stopped evolving. While skeptics periodically declare the genre dead or dying, a wave of modern blues artists is proving otherwise. From Grammy-winning guitar prodigies to soul-drenched vocalists barely old enough to rent a car, today’s blues scene is arguably the most

Nina Simone: Biography of the High Priestess of Soul Introduction Nina Simone (1933-2003) was a classically trained pianist who became one of the most influential voices in American music. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in North Carolina, she combined classical technique with blues, jazz, gospel, and folk to create a distinctive sound that defied categorization. Her

Samantha Fish: The Fearless Guitar Force Redefining Modern Blues When Buddy Guy called a young guitarist up on stage during a 2013 show, he had no idea what was about to happen. Within minutes, the blues legend was grinning ear to ear, so electrified by her playing that he told his audience he would play

Luther Allison: The Bluesman Who Conquered Two Continents The crowd at the 1995 Chicago Blues Festival numbered over 150,000. When Luther Allison tore into “Soul Fixin’ Man” from the main stage, the entire park locked in. His guitar screamed. His voice shook with gospel fire. He walked into the crowd with his Gibson Les Paul,

Hubert Sumlin: The Guitar Behind Howlin’ Wolf’s Sound The boy was too young to be inside the juke joint. That didn’t stop him. Somewhere in the Arkansas Delta, a young Hubert Sumlin climbed onto wooden crates outside a roadhouse window. He pressed his face against the glass to watch the massive figure on stage. Howlin’