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A massive influence, mostly behind the scenes.
I did a set with him at The Turning Point in Piermont, NY. He was an innately kind gentleman.
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Sad news. A great player and most influential teacher. The Turning Point album was a constant go-to in my youth. Playing with him must have been a gas.
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Not only one of the blues greats, but had an eye for talent like no other. His music will live on forever.
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“chica chica what?”
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Amen. Recently I’ve been listening quite a bit to Sitting In The Rain, from the album A Hard Road.
Great recording, a master class in the power of simplicity. If you don’t know it, give it a listen!
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I feel old.
My introduction to John Mayall was the classic Blues Breakers. I’d listen to Blues Breakers and typically follow-up with Alvin Lee’s Ten Years After, Cricklewood Green.
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My friend, Buddy Whittington, toured with John for 6 years in the US and Europe.
Buddy still plays regularly in the DFW area and is an incredible player and singer!
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I know this is kind of crazy, but some of you know I was a dentist and am now happily retired. For a very brief time, Greg, the bass player was one of my patients. He was Buddy Guy’s bass player for about 11 years, and they had a falling out. According to Greg, Guy’s new manager did not like Greg and they even cut a new album without him knowing about it. Gregg then went on to tour with the Black Crows. I lost contact with him for several years and then he resurfaced and stopped by. He said his dad just died and he did not look good. I did not even recognize him. And then he disappeared. Every so often, I would Goggle him and found out he moved to France and then was playing with John. Greg and I would meet at Border’s Books and have coffee and listen to his stories, like calling up Clapton while he was cooking or talking to Carlos Santana who he admired. Greg was soft spoken and not a braggart. He played with Buddy at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin along with Stevie Ray Vaughn and I also believe Clapton, when the helicopter crash killed Stevie. He stated that he should have been on that flight but gave up his seat to another band member. I think he finally found his band with John. Seeing this video just brought back some memories. Excuse the ramble.
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I heard John when Blue Mitchell was in the band at the University of Chicago, at a taping for one of those late night TV shows, Ohio Players was also on the bill. Got to shake his hand and it was a fantastic night–I loved both bands. RIP John.
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