Influential Modern Blues Guitarists

Albert King was one of the most significant musical influences on the blues-rock artists of the 1960s. In an era blessed with a wealth of fine blues guitarists, King's tone and individual style rose above the competition. His single-string solo style was unmatched, and he would bend the instrument's strings, or use odd tunings to achieve a truly tortured sound. King was one of the first bluesmen to cross over into '60s soul music, and his style would have an impact on young guitarslingers like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Freddie King came up through the ranks of Chicago blues players during the 1950s, but it was during the '60s that King's inspired blend of electric blues, roots rock, and R&B would allow him to outgrow the West Side scene. King's classic instrumental "Hide Away" would be a de facto standard for fledgling blues players for decades. An innovative instrumentalist and underrated singer, King would move beyond blues and soul to make commercial inroads into funk and even soul music. Along the way, he would influence string-benders like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and George Thorogood, among others.

An unassuming musical genius and one of the most important and influential of the modern era Chicago blues guitarists, Hubert Sumlin earned his stellar instrumental reputation backing the larger-than-life blues legend Howlin' Wolf for better than two decades. Although he has pursued a successful, albeit understated solo career for almost three decades, Sumlin's enormous influence can be heard in the playing of blues and blues-rock guitarists like Eric Clapton, Otis Rush, Jimi Hendrix, and Michael Bloomfield, among many others.

One of the greatest of blues guitarists, and sadly one of the most underrated, Jimmy Rogers was both an accomplished solo artist and, as a member of Muddy Waters' original band, one of the architects of the Chicago blues sound. As a session player, Rogers lent his great tone and bass-heavy rhythms to recordings by fellow Chess artists Koko Taylor, Howlin' Wolf, and Sonny Boy Williamson, among others. Still, Rogers' contribution to the development and success of the Chicago blues style is often overshadowed by his legendary musical partners.

In an overcrowded field that includes such stalwarts as Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Freddie King, and Otis Rush, Chicago blues guitarist "Magic Sam" Maghett is often overlooked. It's not for lack of talent, though, as Magic Sam once lit the West Side on fire with his innovative fretwork, over-the-top guitar solos, and emotional vocals. Tragically, Sam died of a heart attack not long after a memorable performance at the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival, his flame extinguished while his career was still on the rise.

Otis Rush is revered by hardcore fans of the music, but virtually unknown outside the blues world. This in spite of the fact that his unique guitar style and hearty, soulful voice influenced a generation of blues artists and would factor heavily in the sound of rockers like Eric Clapton, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Indifferent or underfunded record labels and bad contracts, erratic behavior, mediocre live performances, and poor management have prevented Rush from taking his rightful place as one of the greats of the Chicago blues.