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Memphis, Home of the Blues

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B. B. King: 1925-present Riley 'Beale Street Blues Boy' King came to Memphis in 1947, was a deejay at WDIA, recorded at Sun and launched a blues-defining career. Notable tune: 'The Thrill is Gone.'

Photo by Alan Spearman

B. B. King: 1925-present

Riley "Beale Street Blues Boy" King came to Memphis in 1947, was a deejay at WDIA, recorded at Sun and launched a blues-defining career.

Notable tune: "The Thrill is Gone."

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  • B. B. King: 1925-present Riley 'Beale Street Blues Boy' King came to Memphis in 1947, was a deejay at WDIA, recorded at Sun and launched a blues-defining career. Notable tune: 'The Thrill is Gone.'
  • James 'Son' Thomas: 1926-1993 Mississippi-born Thomas recorded for a few small labels but the one-time grave digger is probably as well known for his clay sculptures of skulls. Notable tune: 'Cairo Blues'
  • Robert Johnson: 1911-1938 Influential singer and guitarist whose recordings in 1936-37 are recognized as landmark works of Delta blues. Legend has it Johnson sold his soul to the devil at a Mississippi crossroads. Notable tune: 'Hellhound on My Trail' Johnson (left) with fellow musician Johnny Shines.
  • Mississippi John Hurt: 1892-1966 The singer/guitarist recorded in Memphis in 1928, faded for years and was brought out of retirement by the Blues revival of the 1960s. Notable tune: 'Avalon Blues'
  • Furry Lewis: 1893-1981 Guitarist and songwriter from Memphis was a streetsweeper who stayed active and whose career was reinvigorated by the blues revival of the 1960s. Notable tune: 'Billy Lyons & Stack-O-Lee'
  • Howlin' Wolf: 1910-1976 Mississippi born Chester Arthur Burnett brought his big frame and voice to Memphis in the early 1950s, recording for Sam Phillips and eventually signing with Chess Records in Chicago. Notable tune: 'How Many More Years'
  • Willie 'Pinetop' Perkins: 1913-2011 The pianist was born in Belzoni, Miss. and worked with B.B. King and recorded for Sam Phillips' Sun Records, eventually performing with Muddy Waters' band and going solo until shortly before his death. Notable tune: 'Chicken Shack'
  • William Christopher Handy: 1873-1958 The influential composer and performer known as Father of the Blues elevated the art form to a significant presence in American music. Notable tune: 'Memphis Blues (aka, Boss Crump)'
  • Muddy Waters: 1915-1983 McKinley Morganfield came out of Stovall's Plantation in the Delta with a distinctive voice and bottleneck slide, quickly achieving some of the highest recognition among blues musicians. Notable tune: 'Mannish Boy'
  • Alberta Hunter: 1895-1984 The Memphis-born singer-songwriter hopped a boxcar to Chicago at 14. She found her voice there and flourished in New York and Europe. Notable tune: 'Downhearted Blues'
  • Sleepy John Estes: 1899-1977 The guitarist/vocalist nicknamed for his penchant to doze first recorded in Memphis in 1929 and again at Sun Studio in 1952 but was 'rediscovered' in the 1960s and toured extensively. Notable tune: 'Floating Bridge'
  • 'Son' House, Jr.: 1902-1988 Guitarist/singer played with Charlie Patton and throughout the Delta, faded from view and was rediscovered in the 1960s blues revival. Notable tune: 'The Pony Blues'
  • Memphis Slim: 1915-1988 Pianist/singer/composer was born in Memphis and found great success nationally but especially in Europe where he lived his last years. Notable tune: 'Every Day I Have the Blues'
  • Memphis Minnie: 1897-1973 Guitarist/vocalist/songwriter born Lizzie Douglas in Louisiana. The pioneering female musician ran off to Memphis, joined the circus and recorded for 40 years. Notable tune: 'Bumble Bee'
  • Mose Vinson 1917-2002 A pianist and singer from Holly Springs, Miss., Vinson's playing exemplified a wild, improvised pre-war barrelhouse style. He played blues and jazz at area juke joints and was a regular performer at the Center for Southern Folklore. Notable tune: 'Blues With a Feeling'
  • John Lee Hooker: 1917-2001 Born near Clarksdale and played for a couple of years in Memphis before moving to Cincinnati and Detroit where he gained notice for his singular 'talking blues' style. Notable tune: 'Boogie Chillen'
  • Jessie Mae Hemphill: 1923-2006 Electric guitarist and singer played mostly in fife and drum bands in Mississippi and didn't gain wide fame until her recording career started in the 1980s. Notable tune: 'Shake It, Baby'
  • Johnny Ace: 1929-1954 John Marshall Alexander was born in Memphis and played with B. B. King and deejayed on WDIA, eventually becoming a top-selling singer before a tragic shooting death ended his career. Notable tune: 'Cross My Heart'
  • Bukka White: 1909-1977 White traveled between the Delta and St. Louis, eventually making Memphis his home after stints in semi-pro baseball and boxing. Notable tune: 'Shake 'Em On Down'
  • Bobby 'Blue' Bland: 1930-present Born in Rosemark, Tenn., soul-blues performer Bland was a founding member of the Beale Streeters, which also included B.B. King and Johnny Ace. Notable tune: 'Turn On Your Love Light' Early in their friendship, Bland (left) famously worked as B.B. King's chauffeur and valet.
  • Charlie Musselwhite: 1944-present The harmonica virtuoso and singer grew up in Memphis and has been a prolific performer and recorder, in recent years mixing jazz, gospel and Tex-Mex with his acoustic Delta blues earning widespread recognition. Notable tune: 'Sad and Beautiful World'
  • Fred McDowell: 1904-1972 Born in Rossville, Tenn., McDowell first played guitar and sang in the area, eventually settliing in Mississippi and inspiring many rock and folk acts. Notable tune: 'You Gotta Move'
  • Charlie Patton: 1891-1934 The Mississippi-born guitarist, known for his use of slide guitar and called 'Father of the Delta Blues' for inspiring legends who came after him, was the first Delta blues star, performing in Memphis and throughout the Delta. Notable tune: 'Spoonful Blues'
  • Albert King: 1923-1992. The singer/guitarist played all around the Mid-South and up to St. Louis and Gary, Ind. before he settled in Memphis and had breakthrough years with Stax in the 1960s and 70s. Notable tune: 'The Hunter.'

Not every great blues musician comes from Memphis. But there's a little bit of Memphis in many of the great blues musicians. Here are some of them.

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