"Stevie had the Skelton key". He took the music of his past, carried it on his back, and opened it up to the masses. He was the conduit of blues music today.
While she may not be considered primarily a Blues guitarist, Sister Rosetta Tharpe deserves an honorable mention for her heavy influence on Blues and Rock 'n Roll. Some even consider her the Queen of Rock 'n Roll. She even influenced Eric Clapton's style.
1. BB King 2. T-Bone Walker 3. Muddy Waters 4. Albert King 5. Freddie King 6. Albert Collins 7. Buddy Guy 8. Eric Clapton 9. SRV 10. Robben Ford Just in case you wondered and yes, it’s well worth listening to what Matt and Jeff have to say about how important those guys were/are 👍
Great video. Loved it. Kinda seems like Page and Hendrix deserved a mention either pre/post Clapton. When I think of blues, "since I been lovin you", and "Red House", are two of my favorites...
Depending on your age it was either Clapton or SRV that switched the light on. For me it was Clapton, particularly the track Eyesight to the Blind on the Tommy soundtrack. After that it was a case of going back and discovering T Bone, the 3 Kings and Buddy. Fantastic list and video.
Robben Ford, so great he's getting some props here! He certainly deserves the exposure. While many listeners and even Blues fans may be unfamiliar with this least known of players on this excellent list, ask damn near any professional and they will sing his praises... true musician's musician!
The problem is I think, we don’t listen to them! You know how that is, lots of great players out there. IF I were to make that list Matt would be high up there.
Interesting post Jeff - always guaranteed a discussion with lists of guitar players 😊 - the ones you & Matt have here are very influential & have inspired many 👍🎶
Great list and discussion. I always think of Buddy Guy as the bridge (a long, successful one) from 50’s blues to modern blues. His early stuff with Junior Wells can’t be missed.
Thanks so much! Really appreciate y’all putting content out there for those of us that enjoy listening to your music and sharing your knowledge of the blues. Cheers 🍻 🤘😎🤘🎸
Thanks guys this is a cool series (I hope it will be) of you two doing a podcast (vodcast). I will add one guitarist to your list that has been a watershed moment for me, and that is you Matt Schofield. After Robben Ford I discovered you, and of course had to go down the rabbit hole of the gear you've used. I've been through most of what you've had on your pedalboard from Free the tone overdrives, to what I'm now using, and that is a Deep Blue Delay set to be a slapback delay, and I have the Royal Blue as my main OD pedal along with its sibling The Sweet Honey Overdrive. All from the Mad Professor of course. Thanks for the inspiration. Huge fan from Norway 😊
Fun and informative. Thanks, Matt and Jeff! I also enjoyed the honourable mention of the 'Ice Cream Man' at 14m, 50s! Perhaps a wee tip of the hat there to EVH. ;)
Even though I pretty much had this list covered it's still so instructive and enjoyable listening to Matt point at what is really important - thanks for this video! cheers
The first time I heard SRV was on AM radio on a David Bowie song. A simple line. I’d loved blues all my life and when I heard that tone I thought who the F@#K is playing that guitar. He was very very special. He had such phenomenal technique that he didn’t need to think about it. It was just balls out. Magnificent.
A whole series would be awesome! Do something like Keiths Short History vids but on players and their impact and techniques. BTW I'm an Emmy award winning editor and would love to work with you!!!
Great video, Matt and Jeff. Can't really argue with any of those choices. I'd put Elmore James on the honorable mention list probably. Looking forward to seeing Matt live in August when he comes to The Kate in Old Saybrook CT.
Awesome, Jeff and Matt. Thank you! I’m really happy because Robben Ford is going to play a show in Portugal (and I already have tickets). Now we have to find a way to get you and Matt to come to play here too!
Great to hear T-Bone and BB right up front here. And I agree, T-Bone is where it all comes from. He was the OG of the OG's. Clapton turned me on to Freddie King. That was when I realized that Clapton was a Freddie King clone. Even vocally. But (personal opinion) Clapton bored me, where Freddie lit me up.
So entertaining was this that I watched like 3 times on repeat. Wish i could give it more than just one "like' up vote. Such a well thought-out list of the history and cultural origins of the genre,..almost a simplified master course. Cant wait to hear more lists.
First, although I would be gutted if Matt took any time away from actually playing the guitar, he could certainly have a career teaching Blues History at the university level - not just because of his knowledge, which seems encyclopedic, but because of the passion he has for the subject. Wonderful. Second, I wasn't surprised by the selections until the last one - and I was pleasantly surprised! This top 10 was constructed along an evolutionary time line, and I definitely agree that Robben has had a key role in the evolution of the blues. As for the honorable mentions, I can easily see that call this the players that mattered, in terms of the development of the blues and the influence on the direction of the blues, makes it okay that some of my personal faves, like Rory Gallagher, weren't on the list because Rory didn't influence the direction of the blues much. Doesn't take away from him being a kick-ass player! Kudos to the two of you for putting this together.
Superb listen! I was trying to keep up, marking down the list of 10 with all the ancillary mentions, but somehow I missed 8 & 9. I’ll have to go back through the transcript. But it would make for a good social post or Short to put the list up. It would drum more conversation for sure.
@@JeffMcErlain It crazy that the feeding machine demands that we poke more viciously at the endorphin machine. Think of smaller contributions to the web as licks plucker from your grander solos….
Also there was no above not below. Just a conversation and many exclusions in the honorable mentions for sure. We were just talking. Peter Green Johnny Winter, and way more. I do agree with the top 10 though.
Great analysis of the genesis of blues guitar. My experience of first hearing the American blues at age 10 would have to be Johnny Winter. But as you would say about Hendrix, he was also a rock guitarist based in the blues. As for Clapton, his confidence so early on playing the solo on Ain’t Got You” by The Yardbirds is just astounding.
@@JeffMcErlain The point about being rated as singers is at least touched upon around 13.40 in the video. Indeed, on the landmark Live at the Regal BB King is introduced as the world's greatest blues singer. The guitar didn't get a look in.
Perhaps even B B King would have given an honorary mention to Peter Green, given that he singled him out from the British blues players of that generation and from a British perspective, following Clapton in the Bluesbreakers he carved out a guitar persona for himself that added to the vocabulary of possibilities for British blues guitarists, who were initially inspired by Clapton, prior to really following the trail back.
If Robben Ford is on the list then Jimi can be on the list. Neither is squarely a blues player. Jimi took blues songs and gave them a rock flavor but songs like Red House are just blues.
Sure some of my favorites like Peter Green and Johnny Winter didn’t make the honorable mention part along with others. Honestly we didn’t think that far ahead! What you saw was what we did basically. I stand by the top 10 though. If you peruse my page you’ll see my love of Peter Green.
The more time passes, the less (imo) clapton is important. As to loud and marshalls, hendrix beat him too it, and the other yardbirds players, especially Page became the template of rock guitar. Beck was a better player player. In my opinion, if clapton never lived, the musical landscape that existed would have amply filled the void and I believe we would be here as we are. A great player but his contributions are overblown
@@JeffMcErlain you guys are the ones who mentioned that Clapton was ‘the’ rock template, and to that, I would be more inclined to use Hendrix as ‘the’ genesis, with then page filling out the foundation set by Hendrix. You could make the present day stand in for Clapton a guy like Bonamassa, another great player, it comparatively a blues playing redundancy, that if he never existed, the blues landscape would pretty much be the same. A more valid reference as a top ten blues man, would be anyone of the earlier acoustic blues players who helped build the musical lexicon and foundations of blues, be it Robert Johnson, Son House, any of the blind lemons (could those guys not at least picked another fruit?) arguments could be made that Peter green had more impact ( and probably would have had he not be so reclusive) because as a player I have never heard a guy make his guitar evoke a gut-wrenching wail (later re-evoked by Gary Moore on the same guitar playing the same song. Anyway my 2 cents
my watershed moment is Matt Schofield and Robben Ford. They changed my life on guitar
I could listen to an entire playlist of Matt explaining OG blues guitarists techniques and styles.
"Stevie had the Skelton key". He took the music of his past, carried it on his back, and opened it up to the masses. He was the conduit of blues music today.
While she may not be considered primarily a Blues guitarist, Sister Rosetta Tharpe deserves an honorable mention for her heavy influence on Blues and Rock 'n Roll. Some even consider her the Queen of Rock 'n Roll. She even influenced Eric Clapton's style.
Matt is the best
He is No.1 of all time
1. BB King
2. T-Bone Walker
3. Muddy Waters
4. Albert King
5. Freddie King
6. Albert Collins
7. Buddy Guy
8. Eric Clapton
9. SRV
10. Robben Ford
Just in case you wondered and yes, it’s well worth listening to what Matt and Jeff have to say about how important those guys were/are 👍
Thanks!!!
@@JeffMcErlain 👌🙂👍
Johnny Winter or Billy Gibbons should have been slid in between Clapton and SRV but that’s just me. Love this list and look forward to a follow up ! 🎩
Sorry, one more… As an old dude, one of my biggest influences was Otis Rush. I’d love to hear Matt discuss him. Thanks again, guys!
Do a video on all of them Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On it!!
Matt’s TrueFire stuff is fantastic!
Great video. Loved it. Kinda seems like Page and Hendrix deserved a mention either pre/post Clapton. When I think of blues, "since I been lovin you", and "Red House", are two of my favorites...
The first of all the "best of lists" I can totally agree with. Spot on, with great back stories by Matt
Great historical content here, thanks to Matt and Jeff. One pure blues guitarist that deserves a shout out is Ronnie Earl, in my opinion.
Mr Intensity. No-one like him.
Depending on your age it was either Clapton or SRV that switched the light on. For me it was Clapton, particularly the track Eyesight to the Blind on the Tommy soundtrack. After that it was a case of going back and discovering T Bone, the 3 Kings and Buddy. Fantastic list and video.
Robben Ford, so great he's getting some props here! He certainly deserves the exposure.
While many listeners and even Blues fans may be unfamiliar with this least known of players on this excellent list, ask damn near any professional and they will sing his praises... true musician's musician!
jeffmcerlain.bandcamp.com/album/now-featuring-robben-ford 😉
I saw Matt live in late 2021.
Great show, it’s good to see anyone carry the torch of great, important music further down the road.
Awesome historical context. Thank you for this video. It would be great to see more in-depth videos on each guitarist.
I saw Robben Ford when he was playing with Charlie
Great list. Would be cool if you guys did a list like this but for modern players. All the most influential modern players.
The problem is I think, we don’t listen to them! You know how that is, lots of great players out there. IF I were to make that list Matt would be high up there.
Two of the best talking about the best.
Awesome! Matt is MY watershed moment Blues Guitarist! Thanks Jeff!
Matt knows his blues stuff... deeply. Listen carefully folks!
Great stuff !!!! Thanks so much. I totally agree that all the kings are just the best
Fantastic! also happy to see Rory Gallagher mentioned
Glad you liked it!
Matt is amazing. From the moment i heard him he became my favourite guitarist and influenced me massively.
Interesting post Jeff - always guaranteed a discussion with lists of guitar players 😊 - the ones you & Matt have here are very influential & have inspired many 👍🎶
Why is Eric Clapton a divisive figure ?
Because of his links to right wing facists in the 70s
I love and share Matt's enthusiasm for electric guitar blues and it's evolution. Great discussion Jeff!!
Thank you both, Jeff and Matt, for an Excellent video! Yes please, more guitar history with @MATT SCHOFIELD! Cheers fellas!
Thank you and you are most welcome!
That’s entertainment- and education. Great video.
This was great! No apologies or explanations needed for longer videos! It’s great, it’s like a podcast for guitar nerds 🤓🎸👍🏼🤘🏼
Thank you!!
@@JeffMcErlain you’re welcome sir 👍🏼🎸
Awesome video! Thanks Jeff and Matt.
I would definitely watch some deep dive videos into specific players, that would be amazing!
I would love to some deep dive videos as well.
Thank you!!
Great list and discussion. I always think of Buddy Guy as the bridge (a long, successful one) from 50’s blues to modern blues. His early stuff with Junior Wells can’t be missed.
This was fascinating. You two are the best! Please , more of this. Enjoyed very much.
Thanks so much! Really appreciate y’all putting content out there for those of us that enjoy listening to your music and sharing your knowledge of the blues. Cheers 🍻 🤘😎🤘🎸
Thanks guys this is a cool series (I hope it will be) of you two doing a podcast (vodcast). I will add one guitarist to your list that has been a watershed moment for me, and that is you Matt Schofield. After Robben Ford I discovered you, and of course had to go down the rabbit hole of the gear you've used. I've been through most of what you've had on your pedalboard from Free the tone overdrives, to what I'm now using, and that is a Deep Blue Delay set to be a slapback delay, and I have the Royal Blue as my main OD pedal along with its sibling The Sweet Honey Overdrive. All from the Mad Professor of course. Thanks for the inspiration. Huge fan from Norway 😊
I like your Blues list!
Thank you!
Fun and informative. Thanks, Matt and Jeff!
I also enjoyed the honourable mention of the 'Ice Cream Man' at 14m, 50s! Perhaps a wee tip of the hat there to EVH. ;)
love to hear a breakdown on all of these guys!!!!
Even though I pretty much had this list covered it's still so instructive and enjoyable listening to Matt point at what is really important - thanks for this video! cheers
yes!! Do single video deep dives. It would be great!!!
Hey man!
Mahalo Jeff came back to catch this video. It was great.
Thanks!!
thanks guys see u soon matt......in holland next week looking forward to it...
🤟
I grew up in the Bay Area and MB lived in the Bay Area. Must be a geographical thing. Super Session is the west coast Beano album
Yep time and geography has a huge part to play, doesn’t it?
The first time I heard SRV was on AM radio on a David Bowie song. A simple line. I’d loved blues all my life and when I heard that tone I thought who the F@#K is playing that guitar. He was very very special. He had such phenomenal technique that he didn’t need to think about it. It was just balls out. Magnificent.
Awesome review. Robben definitely a watershed moment for me as well.
I would love videos on the techniques of these blues greats.
A whole series would be awesome! Do something like Keiths Short History vids but on players and their impact and techniques. BTW I'm an Emmy award winning editor and would love to work with you!!!
I agree, a technique breakdown series from these 10 would be great. One video per player. Then move on to top 10 rock players.
Great video, Matt and Jeff. Can't really argue with any of those choices. I'd put Elmore James on the honorable mention list probably. Looking forward to seeing Matt live in August when he comes to The Kate in Old Saybrook CT.
Awesome, Jeff and Matt. Thank you! I’m really happy because Robben Ford is going to play a show in Portugal (and I already have tickets). Now we have to find a way to get you and Matt to come to play here too!
Hear hear!!
It's like Mount Bluesmore with a three King summit! Thanks guys.
Outstanding work Jeff, really enjoyed that. Fascinating exchange. The Irishman.
Ha! Hey man!
Great to hear T-Bone and BB right up front here. And I agree, T-Bone is where it all comes from. He was the OG of the OG's. Clapton turned me on to Freddie King. That was when I realized that Clapton was a Freddie King clone. Even vocally. But (personal opinion) Clapton bored me, where Freddie lit me up.
So entertaining was this that I watched like 3 times on repeat. Wish i could give it more than just one "like' up vote.
Such a well thought-out list of the history and cultural origins of the genre,..almost a simplified master course.
Cant wait to hear more lists.
Thank you very much Terry!
First, although I would be gutted if Matt took any time away from actually playing the guitar, he could certainly have a career teaching Blues History at the university level - not just because of his knowledge, which seems encyclopedic, but because of the passion he has for the subject. Wonderful. Second, I wasn't surprised by the selections until the last one - and I was pleasantly surprised! This top 10 was constructed along an evolutionary time line, and I definitely agree that Robben has had a key role in the evolution of the blues. As for the honorable mentions, I can easily see that call this the players that mattered, in terms of the development of the blues and the influence on the direction of the blues, makes it okay that some of my personal faves, like Rory Gallagher, weren't on the list because Rory didn't influence the direction of the blues much. Doesn't take away from him being a kick-ass player! Kudos to the two of you for putting this together.
Thanks Tom!!!
I agree with the key names, but Rory, Gary Moore have to be considered...
Who do you think influence those Texas boys it was Johnny Winter
Should Mike Bloomfield be on this list?
Where does Mike Bloomfield fit into this?
How 'bout Peter Green?
Thank you for this education.
im a yas for a video about the techniques !!!!!
Johnny Winter?
Superb listen! I was trying to keep up, marking down the list of 10 with all the ancillary mentions, but somehow I missed 8 & 9. I’ll have to go back through the transcript. But it would make for a good social post or Short to put the list up. It would drum more conversation for sure.
Hey! I have to get on the shorts. Social media takes a lot of time!!
@@JeffMcErlain It crazy that the feeding machine demands that we poke more viciously at the endorphin machine. Think of smaller contributions to the web as licks plucker from your grander solos….
Insatiable machine!
What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend jeff also today is my friends birthday also 5may the fourth be with you ❤❤❤❤❤❤😂😊😊😊😊😊
🙌🏻🙌🏻
Jeff, could you post a song from a gig with you and Matt, both playing a solo each?
That would be cool.
Fascinating chat. LOL @ Mr Softee
😂
Robben has the best "voice" on guitar since Jeff Beck. Thanks guys
I couldn’t agree more.
YOU GOT TBONE WALKER 1ST LOL GOOD STUFF JEFF
THANK YOU FOR BEING SO EMPHATIC!!!
Honorable mention also goes to Earl Hooker
ITS ALL GOOD SOME OF US HAVE DONE OUR HOMEWORK TOO, THE BLUES IS ALRIGHT ...ALRIGHT
Wonderful video 👍 thanks so much
Glad you enjoyed it
Ronnie earl!!!
There is a lot of Robben Ford in Mat.
There is an awful lot of T-Bone Walker from leads to horn arrangements in the BB King pantheon...
I started writing this before he was mentioned.
Ha!
Guys, is it meant to be electric guitar only? Because otherwise it makes no sense that you wouldn't mention Robert Johnson (and others)
We did state that yes. 😉
Heard most @ "Armadillo World Headquarters" in my day. You put Jimmie Vaughan above Johnny Winters? You must be New Yorkers
Matt’s Brooklyn accent gave him away! 😂
Also there was no above not below. Just a conversation and many exclusions in the honorable mentions for sure. We were just talking. Peter Green Johnny Winter, and way more. I do agree with the top 10 though.
Wtf? You don’t mention Robert Johnson?!?!
Have you noticed all the players we mentioned are electric guitarists? We addressed that in the video.
Great analysis of the genesis of blues guitar. My experience of first hearing the American blues at age 10 would have to be Johnny Winter. But as you would say about Hendrix, he was also a rock guitarist based in the blues. As for Clapton, his confidence so early on playing the solo on Ain’t Got You” by The Yardbirds is just astounding.
Thanks Brian!!
Some wrote Steve Vai instead of SRV in the timeline. I thought I was going to see a new side of Vai
Ha! And typos! Apparently YT has AI that does this, it wasn’t me!
JOHN LEE HOOKER ????
No list without SRV is a real list… so for a min I was worried when I looked at the chapters titles… and saw Steve Vai…
AI generated those chapter titles! I had nothing to with it!
Robben loved Michael Bloomfield
Elvin Bishop, Robert Cray,Guitar Junior Hohnson
Johnson, and of course Matt "Guitar" Murphy.
One thing I feel is missing is mentioning that the greats were all great singers.
True. Hindsight is 20/20! We were hanging and I said let’s make some videos….
@@JeffMcErlain The point about being rated as singers is at least touched upon around 13.40 in the video. Indeed, on the landmark Live at the Regal BB King is introduced as the world's greatest blues singer. The guitar didn't get a look in.
Perhaps even B B King would have given an honorary mention to Peter Green, given that he singled him out from the British blues players of that generation and from a British perspective, following Clapton in the Bluesbreakers he carved out a guitar persona for himself that added to the vocabulary of possibilities for British blues guitarists, who were initially inspired by Clapton, prior to really following the trail back.
As a HUGE Peter Green fan, he should have been in the honorable mention. We were just talking live and these things happen.
👏🏻🎸🌟🤍
If Robben Ford is on the list then Jimi can be on the list. Neither is squarely a blues player. Jimi took blues songs and gave them a rock flavor but songs like Red House are just blues.
🤷🏻♂️
UHHHHHH WTH LONNIE JOHNSON !!!! SISTER ROSETTA THARPE
Don't quite understand why Steve Vai is on this list and MANY others aren't...
Not a fan of this video
Peter Green ....
Sure some of my favorites like Peter Green and Johnny Winter didn’t make the honorable mention part along with others. Honestly we didn’t think that far ahead! What you saw was what we did basically. I stand by the top 10 though. If you peruse my page you’ll see my love of Peter Green.
DON; T FORGET RORY,,,,,,,,,,
The more time passes, the less (imo) clapton is important. As to loud and marshalls, hendrix beat him too it, and the other yardbirds players, especially Page became the template of rock guitar. Beck was a better player player. In my opinion, if clapton never lived, the musical landscape that existed would have amply filled the void and I believe we would be here as we are. A great player but his contributions are overblown
We respectfully disagree. 😉 fun to discuss! But you are leaning into the rock guys there. That list will be coming! To people’s consternation…
@@JeffMcErlain you guys are the ones who mentioned that Clapton was ‘the’ rock template, and to that, I would be more inclined to use Hendrix as ‘the’ genesis, with then page filling out the foundation set by Hendrix. You could make the present day stand in for Clapton a guy like Bonamassa, another great player, it comparatively a blues playing redundancy, that if he never existed, the blues landscape would pretty much be the same. A more valid reference as a top ten blues man, would be anyone of the earlier acoustic blues players who helped build the musical lexicon and foundations of blues, be it Robert Johnson, Son House, any of the blind lemons (could those guys not at least picked another fruit?) arguments could be made that Peter green had more impact ( and probably would have had he not be so reclusive) because as a player I have never heard a guy make his guitar evoke a gut-wrenching wail (later re-evoked by Gary Moore on the same guitar playing the same song. Anyway my 2 cents
👍
uhhhh WTH BO DIDDLEY , ELMORE JAMES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
george harrison should be way before clapton