A-Z Blues Artists Index
Every blues legend in our Blues Birthdays & Memorials Calendar. Click any name to jump to their date. Listen to music 24/7 while you browse.
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B.B. King
1925 - 2015
King of the Blues. Born Sep 16. Died May 14.
Bessie Smith
1894 - 1937
Empress of the Blues. Born Apr 15.
Big Bill Broonzy
1903 - 1958
"Key to the Highway". Died Feb 1.
Bill Withers
1938 - 2020
"Ain't No Sunshine". Born Jul 4.
Bill Haley
1925 - 1981
"Rock Around the Clock". Born Jul 6.
Billie Holiday
1915 - 1959
Lady Day. Born Apr 7.
Blind Lemon Jefferson
1893 - 1929
Father of Texas Blues. Died Jan 30.
Blind Willie Johnson
1897 - 1945
Gospel-blues slide master. Born Mar 4.
Bo Diddley
1928 - 2008
The Originator. Born Dec 30.
Bonnie Raitt
1949 - Present
Slide guitar queen. Born Nov 8.
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Charlie Parker
1920 - 1955
Bird. Bebop from blues changes. Born Aug 29.
Charlie Patton
1891 - 1934
Father of the Delta Blues. Died Oct 28.
Chuck Berry
1926 - 2017
Rock and roll started with his blues. Born Oct 18.
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
1924 - 2005
Texas blues multi-instrumentalist. Born Apr 17.
Curtis Mayfield
1942 - 1999
The Impressions. Born Jun 3.
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James Brown
1933 - 2006
Godfather of Soul. Born May 3.
Janis Joplin
1943 - 1970
Blues-rock queen. Born Jan 19.
Jim Morrison
1943 - 1971
The Doors. Born Dec 8. Died Jul 3.
Jimi Hendrix
1942 - 1970
Voodoo Child. Born Nov 27. Died Sep 18.
Jimmy Page
1944 - Present
Led Zeppelin. Blues scholar.
John Lee Hooker
1917 - 2001
The Boogie Man. Born Aug 22. Died Nov 6.
John Lennon
1940 - 1980
Beatles. Born Oct 9.
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Ray Charles
1930 - 2004
Genius of Soul. Born Sep 23.
Robert Johnson
1911 - 1938
Crossroads legend. Born May 8. Died Aug 16.
Robert Plant
1948 - Present
Led Zeppelin. Born Aug 20.
Roberta Flack
1937 - Present
"Killing Me Softly". Born Feb 10.
Robin Trower
1945 - Present
"Bridge of Sighs". Born Mar 9.
Ronnie Van Zant
1948 - 1977
Lynyrd Skynyrd. Born Jan 15.
Rory Gallagher
1948 - 1995
Irish blues-rock guitar hero.
Rudolph Isley
1939 - 2023
Isley Brothers. Born Apr 1.
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Sarah Vaughan
1924 - 1990
Sassy. Jazz-blues vocal goddess. Born Mar 27.
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
1929 - 2000
"I Put a Spell on You". Born Jul 18.
Slim Gaillard
1916 - 1991
"Flat Foot Floogie". Born Jul 23.
Slim Harpo
1924 - 1970
"I'm a King Bee". Born Jan 21.
Son House
1902 - 1988
Delta blues preacher. Died Jul 22.
Sonny Boy Williamson II
1912 - 1965
Master of blues harmonica. Died Feb 22.
Sonny Landreth
1951 - Present
Slide guitar wizard. Born Feb 16.
Stevie Ray Vaughan
1954 - 1990
Brought blues back to arenas. Born Oct 3. Died Aug 27.
Stevie Wonder
1950 - Present
Soul genius with deep blues roots. Born May 13.
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This list matches our Blues Birthdays Calendar. We add new legends monthly.