John Mayall, a pioneer of music described as the “Godfather of British Blues”, has passed away. He was 90 years old.
The news was revealed by his family in a statement made on social media. “It is with heavy hearts that we bear the news that John Mayall passed away peacefully in his California home yesterday, July 22, 2024, surrounded by his loving family,” the statement reads.
“Health issues that forced John to end his epic touring career have finally led to peace for one of this world’s greatest road warriors. John Mayall gave us ninety years of tireless efforts to educate, inspire and entertain.”
Mayall is survived by six children, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, his ex-wives, Pamela and Maggie, his secretary Jane, and more close friends.
Mayall’s impact on music is difficult to sum up. Through his band, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, he worked with formidable names such as Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Peter Green, John McVie, Larry Taylor and Mick Taylor.
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Clapton and Bruce went on to form Cream; Green and McVie formed Fleetwood Mac; Larry Taylor became a member of Canned Heat; and Mick Taylor became guitarist for The Rolling Stones. In 1982, John Mayall reunited with Bluesbreakers bandmates Mick Taylor, John McVie, and session drummer Colin Allen (who’s worked with Bob Dylan, Sonny Boy Williamson, and more).
John Mayall was an appointed OBE (Officer of the British Empire) and Grammy-nominated artist. He passed away just months before he could be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Described as the “Godfather of British Blues”, the biography section praised Mayall for “continually experimented with and stretched the blues, exerting a major influence on rock music” and providing “musicians and fans with a lifetime’s worth of unforgettable and influential music.”
Mayall toured Australia in 2015 and played at Bluesfest. His performances came more than five decades into his storied career, which saw the venerated troubadour release more than 60 albums.
In a review of his concert at Bluesfest Byron Bay, The Music contributors said that Mayall’s performance “shows that being in his early 80s is no impediment to putting on a rock solid show, one of the best blues gigs of the weekend.”
