As a young boy on the outskirts of Manchester, England, John Mayall found a deep connection with the blues records that streamed in from the United States. The music resonated with him, encapsulating joy, sorrow, and the essence of real-life experiences. It was a genre that could evoke euphoria and despair, hope and mystery, all intertwined in a tapestry of profound emotion. This passion for the blues would shape his life and career, ultimately establishing him as a pivotal figure in the British blues movement of the 1960s.
Mayall, who passed away recently at the age of 90, was not just a musician; he was a mentor and a guiding light for many of the era’s most celebrated artists. Eric Clapton, one of his most famous protégés, paid tribute to Mayall, stating, “He was my mentor and a surrogate father too. He taught me all I really know and gave me the courage and enthusiasm to express myself without fear or without limit.”
Throughout his career, Mayall provided a nurturing environment for a remarkable array of talented musicians who would go on to achieve great fame. His band, the Bluesbreakers, served as a launching pad for artists like Clapton, Jack Bruce (who later formed Cream), Mick Taylor (who joined the Rolling Stones), and members of Fleetwood Mac, Journey, and Canned Heat.
Mayall was a generation older than many of the iconic musicians he mentored, and he became a vital source of inspiration for them. He offered solace to Clapton during a tumultuous time when Clapton had just left the Yardbirds and was contemplating leaving music altogether. For Mayall, the fame that his bandmates later enjoyed was secondary to his love for the music itself. “The great roster of the most famous names all came out of that period of London of four or five years,” he reflected in a 1997 interview. “Everybody knew everybody, so they were shifting around, finding their own musical path. As a band leader, I just hired whoever turned me on. That criteria is the same today as always.”
In the 1990s, I had the opportunity to interview Mayall several times, including at his home in the San Fernando Valley. Our first conversation was cut short, likely due to my inexperience as an interviewer and my probing questions about his more controversial opinions, such as his critique of Led Zeppelin as “a parody of the blues.” However, he was generally patient and passionate when discussing the blues. While many recognized him as a gifted talent scout, his own musical contributions were equally significant. Mayall was a singer and multi-instrumentalist, proficient in harmonica, keyboards, and guitar. His songwriting was deeply autobiographical, reflecting his life experiences through both celebration and lament.
Despite his immense talent, Mayall faced criticism for being a purist, often sticking closely to the traditional blues sound while many of his former collaborators ventured into rock, psychedelia, and pop. His own explorations took him further from mainstream trends, as evidenced by his 1968 album “Bare Wires,” which incorporated jazz-rock fusion with layers of horns and flute. Yet, the electrified Chicago blues remained his guiding star.
“‘Purist’ is a funny word really,” he once said. “There are bands that just do that. They consider themselves blues purists. But I’ve always been an innovator, so purist doesn’t really fit. I do draw from the pure roots of the blues to make something that’s very contemporary and something that is very personal.”
Mayall’s musical journey began in the late 1940s and 1950s, influenced by his father’s extensive record collection. He developed a love for artists like the Mills Brothers, Charlie Christian, and Lonnie Johnson, and soon began collecting his own 78 rpm records. “Anything with the word ‘boogie’ on it, I bought it,” he recalled. His discovery of legendary blues musicians such as Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Sonny Terry solidified his passion for the genre.
At the age of 30, Mayall left Manchester for London, ready to immerse himself in the burgeoning blues scene. “It all really happened rather suddenly, and everybody really came down to London,” he explained. The British blues movement was ignited by figures like Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies, evolving from folk clubs to electrified Chicago blues. American blues had reached the postwar generation in Britain, sparking a movement that would eventually bring the genre back to its roots.
In those formative years, Mayall was inspired by the successes of bands like the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds. “I was pretty amazed,” he said, reflecting on how he had been playing this music privately for years, never imagining it was suitable for public performance. His best-known album, “Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton,” released in 1967, is regarded as a classic of the genre and an early showcase of Clapton’s burgeoning talent.
Despite his significant contributions, Mayall never achieved the same level of commercial success as some of his former bandmates. He received a couple of Grammy nominations throughout his career, and in 2005, he was honored with an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II. This fall, he was set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an Influence Award.
While he occasionally expressed frustration over the lack of recognition, Mayall remained focused on his music. He spent a significant portion of his life on the road, releasing nearly 40 studio albums and over 30 live recordings. For him, the journey of creating music was never-ending. “Creating music is an art,” he explained. “Jazz musicians and blues musicians, their careers do not end except by death. It’s something that has a built-in longevity. It’s not a flash-in-the-pan thing. The years only make you more mature; you learn more and more as the years go by.”
John Mayall’s legacy as a pioneer of British blues is undeniable. His influence on the genre and the countless musicians he inspired will resonate for generations to come. He was a true artist who led with heart and soul, setting the bar for British blues and leaving an indelible mark on the music world.
Source: Associated Press
