Underrated/under appreciated blues artists

[Tazziedevil]

Without Willie Dixon, Led Zeppelin would have had to write their own songs from Day 1. What a different world this would be.

My vote is Otis Rush. He's not a nobody, but he should have been every bit as popular as his peers.

Otis Rush is probably one of my favourite artists of all time. Not an A-Lister, probably a solid B lister!

 

[GwenOnBass]

and

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[TomB]

Otis Rush is probably one of my favourite artists of all time. Not an A-Lister, probably a solid B lister!

In the Chicago Blues scene of the '70's that I came up in, Otis was most certainly an A-lister. He struggled with health at times and so didn't have as complete a career as he might have. But in 2010 (I think it was) he headlined the whole Chicago Blues Fest and he tore it up. When at his best, he was the best!

 

[jerry]

In the Chicago Blues scene of the '70's that I came up in, Otis was most certainly an A-lister. He struggled with health at times and so didn't have as complete a career as he might have. But in 2010 (I think it was) he headlined the whole Chicago Blues Fest and he tore it up. When at his best, he was the best!

Rush was also a A lister to all the English cats that borrowed from him, especially Peter Green and Clapton.

 

[Tazziedevil]

In the Chicago Blues scene of the '70's that I came up in, Otis was most certainly an A-lister. He struggled with health at times and so didn't have as complete a career as he might have. But in 2010 (I think it was) he headlined the whole Chicago Blues Fest and he tore it up. When at his best, he was the best!

That’s really interesting. He just doesn’t get a lot of love when it comes to discussing blues guitarists these days, but the way he phrased things and his sense of rhythm was off the charts!

 

[TomB]

That’s really interesting. He just doesn’t get a lot of love when it comes to discussing blues guitarists these days, but the way he phrased things and his sense of rhythm was off the charts!

Yes, it was a privilege to play bass for him. Honestly though, his singing blew me away at least as much as his playing. One time in the early 2000’s when I was backing Eddie Taylor Jr, Otis came up and sang a couple tunes, including Mojo of all things - no guitar. He blew the room away!

 

[Feral Feline]

Yeah, when I think of Otis Rush I think of his singing.

Love his playing, too, of course, but it's his vox that springs to my mind when his name is uttered.

 

[Tazziedevil]

Yes, it was a privilege to play bass for him. Honestly though, his singing blew me away at least as much as his playing. One time in the early 2000’s when I was backing Eddie Taylor Jr, Otis came up and sang a couple tunes, including Mojo of all things - no guitar. He blew the room away!

I can imagine it would be quite the honour to play with him!
His voice is quite unique - very clear with just the right amount of vibrato.

 

[5StringBlues]

One of these weekends when I have a ton of time I plan to contribute a whole lot more to this thread.


In my opinion, we have just begun to scratch the surface.

 

[Tazziedevil]

One of these weekends when I have a ton of time I plan to contribute a whole lot more to this thread.


In my opinion, we have just begun to scratch the surface.

Can't wait!

 

[5StringBlues]

Holland K. Smith is a Dallas player I met back in 1997 or so. At that point he was doing strictly jump blues with an upright bassist.

He now includes many different sounds into his shows, including a great version of The Bee Gee's "To Love Somebody" , which I didn't link here due to the poor sound quality of all the versions I found on YouTube.

 

[Tazziedevil]

Holland K. Smith is a Dallas player I met back in 1997 or so. At that point he was doing strictly jump blues with an upright bassist.

He now includes many different sounds into his shows, including a great version of The Bee Gee's "To Love Somebody" , which I didn't link here due to the poor sound quality of all the versions I found on YouTube.

I really like that guitar! Mustard yellow?

 

[5StringBlues]

I really like that guitar! Mustard yellow?

I was gonna guess Shoreline Gold but it doesn't seem reflecty enough.

He seems to have a different one every time I see him tho!

 

[36hz]

Heres a guy been doing something new with the blues



personaly old field recordings are my fav blues
this is like a modern reinvention..coolstuf

 

[JW56789]

I'm fortunate here in Nashville to have a fabulous black-owned radio station that promises to shoot radio consultants the minute they turn in their driveway, so they play just what they want to play as radio stations once did. Nashville's Heritage Radio Station, the mighty WVOL, 1470AM.

It's a great education for me, as they play lots of stuff I haven't heard in who knows when and let's me into a whole 'nother world of music I discover through them. This is one of them:



I'd never heard of Terry Evans, and was stunned to hear this collaboration with Ry Cooder. It sounds like some smoky place down in the Delta, with soul food and guys in pleated pants totin' straight razors. Like all blues oughta sound, and just like country music on WSM, this stuff just sounds better on AM.

 

[jerry]

I'm fortunate here in Nashville to have a fabulous black-owned radio station that promises to shoot radio consultants the minute they turn in their driveway, so they play just what they want to play as radio stations once did. Nashville's Heritage Radio Station, the mighty WVOL, 1470AM.

It's a great education for me, as they play lots of stuff I haven't heard in who knows when and let's me into a whole 'nother world of music I discover through them. This is one of them:



I'd never heard of Terry Evans, and was stunned to hear this collaboration with Ry Cooder. It sounds like some smoky place down in the Delta, with soul food and guys in pleated pants totin' straight razors. Like all blues oughta sound, and just like country music on WSM, this stuff just sounds better on AM.

Terry Evans is great he also did some real nice stuff with Bobby King, their albums together are awesome.

 

[salmon256]

Sorry I know this posting is so old but I had to share

I think Bukka White is really underrated. He is one of my all time favorites, everyday I say I give him a listen. I think in general the Delta Blues legends do not get enough credit, some made their own kind of style of folk or just straight up blues. The story of blues and the history of it is intense and can be downright depressing at times but it's amazing music and world history. Rev Robert Jones does an amazing job keeping the blues legend legacy alive. So I would say Bukka White, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie and all those amazing guys. My thing is I always get upset seeing a cover of a Blues song and seeing no love for the original Delta players who pioneer it. Like a lot of Lead Belly songs are cover but never given enough credit to him as a writer or player.

 

[Ostie]

Rush was also a A lister to all the English cats that borrowed from him, especially Peter Green and Clapton.

I saw Otis at a blues club in East Lansing back in the 70s. He was awesome.

 

[Feral Feline]

Sorry I know this posting is so old but I had to share

I think Bukka White is really underrated. He is one of my all time favorites, everyday I say I give him a listen. I think in general the Delta Blues legends do not get enough credit, some made their own kind of style of folk or just straight up blues. The story of blues and the history of it is intense and can be downright depressing at times but it's amazing music and world history. Rev Robert Jones does an amazing job keeping the blues legend legacy alive. So I would say Bukka White, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie and all those amazing guys. My thing is I always get upset seeing a cover of a Blues song and seeing no love for the original Delta players who pioneer it. Like a lot of Lead Belly songs are cover but never given enough credit to him as a writer or player.

+1


Bears repeating...