The best blues artists of all time? and the best blues artists of today?

Question

Just anyone's opinion, who do you thing the best artist in blues is/was?

Answer 1

W.C. Handy
Mamie Smith
Bessie Smith
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Blind Blake
Lonnie Johnson
Blind Willie Johnson
Mississippi John Hurt
Leroy Carr
Blind Willie McTell
Son House
Big Bill Broonzy
Leadbelly
Memphis Minnie
Robert Johnson
Sonny Boy Williamson I
Bukkka White
Big Maceo Merriweather
Dinah Washington
Josh White
T-Bone Walker
Muddy Waters
Lightnin' Hopkins
Louis Jordan
John Lee Hooker
Elmore James
Big Mama Thronton
Howlin' Wolf
Ray Charles
Buddy Guy
Albert Collins
Willie Dixon
Koko Taylor
Mississippi Fred McDowell
Jimi Hendrix
Etta James
Taj Mahal
Johnny Winter
B.B. King
Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers
Z.Z. Hill
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Robert Cray
Katie Webster
Elvin Bishop
Keb' Mo'
Eric Clapton
Peggy Scott-Adams
Susan Tedeschi
Shemekia Copeland

And these days I am digging Jack White and Amy Winehouse.

Answer 2

Best of all time was Robert Johnson.A life cut too short by living out his songs,no doubt.
Best of today?B.B.King.Even at 80 years old,he's still an enormously influential artist and the "King of The Blues". And Buddy Guy.Buddy is the artist who has been a major influence on Stevie ray Vaughan and eric Clapton.Buddy is also one of our senior citizens,being over 70.But he still kicks some major tail.If Muddy Waters was still alive he'd be on this list,too.Muddy was the known as "Father of the Electric Blues".His stuff is still being covered by todays players(and not as good as the original!).
Those are the Best of The Best.

Answer 3

Then - Charlie Patton (who taught guitar to) Robert Johnson, Son House, Skip James, Pinetop Perkins, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Bobby Blue Bland

Now - Susan Tedeschi, Etta James, R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, BB King, Johnny Winter

Answer 4

Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938) is among the most famous Delta Blues musicians. His landmark recordings from 1936-37 display a remarkable combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that have influenced generations of musicians. Johnson's shadowy, poorly documented life and violent death at age 27 have given rise to much legend. Considered by some to be the "Grandfather of Rock-and-Roll," his vocal phrasing, original songs, and guitar style influenced a range of musicians, including Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers Band, The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, The Black Keys, Peter Gabriel, Neil Young, Warren Zevon and Eric Clapton, who called Johnson "the most important blues musician who ever lived." He was also ranked 5th on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time. He is an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Personally I like Stevie Ray Vaughan

Answer 5

Deceased:

Robert Johnson, T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Elmore James, Willie Dixon, Charles Brown, Albert King, Albert "Iceman" Collins, Freddie King, Son House, Big Joe Turner, Bobby Bland, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson 2, Little Walter Jacobs, Paul Butterfield, Jimmy Reed, Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Luther Allison, Roy Buchanan, Bessie Smith, Billie Holliday, Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, Nellie Lutcher, Ruth Brown, Dinah Washington, Janis Joplin

Alive as of 9/25/07:

B. B. King, Buddy Guy, W. C. Clark, John Mayall, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Lucky Peterson, James Cotton, Billy Boy Arnold, Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Branch, Guitar Shorty, Mitch Woods & the Rocket 88s, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Chris Cain, Joe Louis Walker & the Boss Talkers, Coco Montoya, Marcia Ball, Koko Taylor, Reno Jones Band, Lara Price Band, J. C. Smith Band, Sista Monica

Too hard to name "best ever." There are a lot of different eras & styles. My favorite blues guitarist is Stevie Ray Vaughan, favorite singer Billie Holliday. Other favorites, running across all styles & eras, are T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Albert Collins, Albert King, Willie Dixon, Little Walter, Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield & Charlie Musselwhite - but I like 'em all!

Answer 6

That's hard to say... For guitar however, I'd have to say the best artists today would be Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy. Of all time?

Stevie Ray Vaughan
BB King
Hendrix

Answer 7

Heres my fav's.....BB King, Eric Clapton,Bonnie Raitt,Janis Joplin,
Stevie Ray Vaughn

and todays.....(including those above still living) Jonny Lang,
John Mayer, Delbert McClinton

Answer 8

The best of all time:
Robert Johnson
Janis Joplin
Willie Dixon - Writing ability alone

Now:
BB King
Buddy Guy
Shemika Copeland

For the most part a lot of the great bluesmen and women are still alive or their music is still alive. So it is hard to pick now and then.

Answer 9

All time: Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, John Lee Hooker, BB King, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt,
Janis Joplin, Van Morrison, John Hammond, Stevie Ray Vaughn ...
Today: John Hammond, Tom Waits, Rickie Lee Jones, Bonnie Raitt, Jonny Lang, John Mayer, Buddy Guy, BB King, Amy Winehouse ...

Answer 10

All time-tie between Muddy, Wolf, Little Walter,Sonny Boy #2

Now-Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan