(Los Angeles) British singer and musician John Mayall, a pioneer of English blues in the 1960s and an influential figure on the rock scene, has died at the age of 90, his family announced on his official Facebook page on Tuesday.
He died earlier in the day at his home in California, said the press release, which did not specify the exact cause of his death.
“The health concerns that forced John to end his concert career finally put one of the world’s greatest travelers to rest in peace,” the text notes.
This singer, harmonica player, keyboardist and guitarist was one of the main actors of the “blues boom” that swept the UK in the mid-sixties.
In 1963, John Mayall, already 30 years old, came to London from the north of England. After graduating with a degree in fine arts, he decided to give up his job as a graphic designer to embrace life as a black American-born blues musician.
As leader of his Bluesbreakers, he created a sophisticated blues. Many young guitarists, who later became very popular, firstly Eric Clapton, but also Peter Green and Mick Taylor revealed themselves.
Photo by Klaus Hampel, Archives Associated Press
John Mayall, in 1969
John Mayall moved to California in 1968, where he continued to refine his progressive blues.
“Livin & Lovin’ the Blues” (“Living and Loving the Blues”): The slogan on his tour posters perfectly captures the mood that animated this blues worker.
When he started playing the blues in the 1960s, “this music was new to white England”, he told AFP in 1997. Arriving in America, in 1972 he embarked on an American tour with a group consisting of almost all black musicians.
Easily recognizable by his famous goatee and ponytail when he was younger, John Mayall cut some decisive records, John Mayall plays with Eric Clapton And from the blues Laurel Canyon Specifically.
Born near Manchester in 1933, he left behind 6 children, 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, according to his Facebook page.
