John Mayall RIP- Thanks to a Blues Legend
The news that John Mayall- a patron saint of the blues- passed away recently at the age of 90 put a hole in my past.
Like a lot of music fans about my age, I didn’t know much about Mayall and all those famous Bluesbreakers bands featuring so many of the musicians who went on to bring the blues to rock audiences- including such luminaries as Eric Clapton, John McVie, Peter Green, Jack Bruce, and Mick Taylor.
It was the 1969 album “The Turning Point” that did the trick for me. The record, featuring Mayall with Jon Mark and Johnny Almond, was a favorite at the time. I was delighted by the mouth percussion part on the song “Room to Move” and it was a pleasure to be introduced to the concept of acoustic blues- with no drum kit. Of course, by the time I got to see Mayall live, he had already moved on- literally.
1972
My brother and I- constant companions going to live shows of all kinds (he could drive)- made the trek to the Whisky A Go Go to see what Mayall was up to. Mayall was beyond that “acoustic blues” phase and was then into blues jazz fusion. In fact, his 1971 album was titled “Jazz-Blues Fusion,” Mayall hiring some great players to produce a truly beefed up, big band blues. Another thing that brought us back to the Sunset Strip was the little tag on the ad in the LA Times that said “Recording live.” The idea of actually witnessing the recording of an album was stimulating.
Opening the show was drummer Chico Hamilton, playing with a small combo and creating impressive flourishes over his drum kit.
Mayall’s band included Keef Hartley, Larry Taylor, Blue Mitchell and Freddie Robinson- and the stage at the Whisky was jammed full. Also appearing was guest artist Cannonball Adderly, adding to the hard-edged, fast-paced quality of the music. Recordings from that evening were indeed released by Polydor Records under the title of “Moving On.”
That concert at the Whisky was also the occasion for another highlight of my youth. For the show, I ended up in a seat in the very top corner of the club, almost looking straight down at the performers. To my surprise, a waitress asked me what I wanted to drink and when I sheepishly replied “red wine,” the nearby bartender said “You better check his ID.” I looked nervously at the waitress and she told me just to show her anything. She made a show of looking over my high school ID, then got me a glass of wine- my first public drink. I kept the glass as a souvenir.
1991
Years later- in 1991- I would interview Mayall for my concert column in The Coloradoan. I interviewed him by phone, then a standard practice, in advance of his appearance at Mishawaka. It was a lousy connection and Mayall was a little perturbed that I had not yet listened to his record at the time, “A Sense of Place,” mostly because the record company publicity department had not been on the job.
Still, it was pretty great to be talking to a player I admired so much. One of the things I asked him was if I remembered correctly that Cannonball Adderly had played that Whisky show in 1972 since the “Moving On” album didn’t feature Adderly at all. Mayall commended me on my memory and reported that the recordings with Adderly were faulty and didn’t make it onto the record.
Here are a few quotes from the interview:
Defining the blues-
“It’s a totally honest music that makes people feel good. It’s real music, it’s very personal. And it isn’t something that can be classified as one-sounding music. Each Individual has his own distinctive stamp on it. People like BB King and John Lee Hooker are poles apart when you come to the sound of the music, but when you size it all together, it’s blues that’s communicated.”
Blues in England in the early Sixties-
“In the clubs, traditional jazz, New Orleans jazz, had reigned supreme for ten years. Then Alexis Korner and Bill Davis triggered the whole thing off by putting a Chicago-style blues band together and that really started the ball rolling.”
Playing live versus recording-
“I earn my living and spend my time on the road doing live shows. We do 120 shows every year and so that’s really the part that takes up the time. When you do a recording, it’s a totally different thing. That will only take a week’s work. That’s where you crystallize your ideas and make a piece of work that’s still around. Playing music live, you’re expressing yourself in an immediate way. But if you record, all you’re doing really is to try to capture that spontaneity and not get away from that direct sense of communication.”
Gathering songs for a new recording project-
“I always wait until I have the opportunity to record and in that way keep the project totally fresh. In the past, I’ve prepared stuff for albums and then had to wait so long that by the time you get to it, it gets either stale or the initial spark is gone. So I’m just waiting for the go ahead but when we do get the green light from somebody, of course we’ll start gathering material together, both self-penned items and the best of various other people.”
Finding inspiration from new blues players-
“It’s the most exciting thing, really, because my background is my background and nobody can alter that, but the fact that there’s a new generation is very invigorating.”
I made it up to the show at Mishawaka and was able to meet Mayall briefly before things got going. It turns out Mayall was a collector and asked me specifically to bring him a copy of the article I wrote after our interview. I took two copies- Mayall kept one and then signed one for my own archives. And BTW, Mayall had another great guitarist in the band at that time- Coco Montoya.
2000
I didn’t get to photograph Mayall until 2000- I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Mayall was opening a show at the Boulder Theater with Peter Green headlining, who was coming out of self-imposed retirement to make music again. It was just the icing on the cake for me, after having seen him record an album in the ’70s and then interviewing him in the ’90s.
From “The Turning Point” to snapping some frames in Boulder some 30 years later, John Mayall was a cherished artist for me- and that’s only a part of a career that could be called legendary. We can still listen to his huge catalog of recordings, but there is nothing like seeing the guy on stage. Thanks for that, John. We’re sorry to see you go.
RIP List 2024 Online news sources
David Soul, ‘Starsky & Hutch’ star, dead at 80
Glynis Johns, ‘Mary Poppins’ actress, dies at 100
Joyce Randolph, Last of the ‘Honeymooners,’ Is Dead at 99
Jay Clayton, Vocal Innovator in Jazz and Beyond, Is Dead at 82
Peter Schickele, Composer and Gleeful Sire of P.D.Q. Bach, Dies at 88
Mary Weiss, Shangri-Las lead singer, dies aged 75
Norman Jewison, Filmmaker Who Spanned Genres, Is Dead at 97
Boney M founder Frank Farian dies aged 82
Melanie, Singer Who Made a Solo Splash at Woodstock, Dies at 76
Jo-El Sonnier, Who Sparked a Revival of Cajun Music, Dies at 77
Bill Hayes, Enduring Soap Star With a ‘Davy Crockett’ Hit, Is Dead at 98
Marlena Shaw, Venerable Nightclub Chanteuse, Dies at 84
Chita Rivera, Electrifying Star of Broadway and Beyond, Is Dead at 91- Jan 22, 1933 – Jan 29, 2024 Age 9. Appearing in scores of stage productions, she dazzled audiences for nearly six decades, most memorably starring as Anita in “West Side Story.”
Melinda Wilson, Who Helped Brian Wilson Battle Mental Illness, Dies at 77. Ms. Wilson’s relationship with her husband, a co-founder of the Beach Boys, was portrayed in the 2014 film “Love & Mercy.”
Toby Keith- The “Beer For My Horses” singer-songwriter has died at 62. The country star had stomach cancer and died peacefully surrounded by family.
Mojo Nixon, ‘Elvis Is Everywhere’ Singer, Dies at 66. “Elvis Is Everywhere” singer, was found dead on Wednesday after performing on the Outlaw Country Cruise. He was 66.
N. Scott Momaday Feb 26, 1934 – Jan 23, 2024 Age 89
Aston Barrett, 77, Bass-Playing Force With Bob Marley and Wailers, Dies
Seiji Ozawa, Captivating Conductor, Is Dead at 88 He led the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 29 years, toured widely and helped dispel prejudices about East Asian classical musicians.
Randy Sparks, Founder of the New Christy Minstrels, Dies at 90
Jimmy Van Eaton, Purveyor of the Sun Records Beat, Dies at 86
Pamela Salem, Miss Moneypenny in Bond movie ‘Never Say Never Again,’ dies at 80
Roni Stoneman, Country Music’s ‘First Lady of the Banjo,’ Dies at 85
Roni Stoneman in the 1960s. Her death leaves only one surviving member of her large musical family, which was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame.
Steve Lawrence, Who Sang His Listeners Down Memory Lane, Dies at 88 Steve Lawrence, singer and half of popular stage duo Steve & Eydie, dies at 88
Karl Wallinger, Who Sang With World Party and the Waterboys, Dies at 66
Eric Carmen, Raspberries Frontman and ‘All By Myself’ Singer, Dies at 74 He sang on the power-pop pioneers’ 1972 breakout hit, “Go All the Way,” before pursuing a successful solo career as a soft rock crooner.
Michael Knott, who changed the course of Christian rock, dies at 61
Karaoke inventor Shigeichi Negishi dies at 100 Negishi was in his 40s when he came up with the idea of prototyping a mass-produced, coin-operated karaoke machine, branded “Sparko Box” in 1967.
Cockney Rebel singer Steve Harley dies at 73 The rock star, whose song Make Me Smile was a number one in 1975, was being treated for cancer.
M. Emmet Walsh, Character Actor Who Always Stood Out, Dies at 88. His roles in films like “Knives Out” and “Blade Runner” were sometimes big, sometimes small. But he invariably made a strong impression.
Louis Gossett Jr., Actor in ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ and ‘Roots,’ Dies. He was the first Black man to win the Oscar for best supporting actor for his portrayal of a drill instructor in “An Officer and a Gentleman.” He was 87.
Barbara Rush, Award-Winning TV and Film Actress, Dies at 97
John Barth, Writer Who Pushed Storytelling’s Limits, Dies at 93
John Sinclair, 82, Dies; Counterculture Activist Who Led a ‘Guitar Army’
Jerry Grote, Stalwart Mets Catcher on ’69 Championship Team, Dies at 81
OJ Simpson: His life and the trial that defined it Former American football star OJ Simpson, acquitted of his ex-wife’s murder in a 1995 trial, has died at 76.
Ethiopian singer Muluken Melesse dies at 73 One of the most popular Ethiopian vocalists of the late 20th century, he rose to fame at a time of great political unrest in Ethiopia.
Dickey Betts, a vocalist, guitarist and the co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band, has died at age 80,
US journalist Terry Anderson, held in Lebanon hostage crisis for nearly 7 years, dead at 76
Mike Pinder, Founding Keyboardist of the Moody Blues, Dies at 82 The keyboardist Mike Pinder onstage with the Moody Blues in 1965. He was the band’s last surviving original member.
Duane Eddy, who put the twang in early rock guitar with ‘Rebel Rouser’, dies at age 86
He was a pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as “Rebel Rouser” and “Peter Gunn” influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless other musicians.
Richard Tandy, Keyboardist for Electric Light Orchestra, Dies at 76
Renowned painter and pioneer of minimalism Frank Stella dies at 87 Frank Stella was one of America’s leading minimalist artists and a pioneer of the minimalist movement of the early 1960s. The movement challenged the idea that art was meant to be representative.
Roger Corman, The B-Movie Legend Who Launched A-List Careers, Dies At 98 Over some five decades, Corman filled America’s drive-ins with hundreds of low-budget movies. Many of Hollywood’s most respected directors have at least one Corman picture buried in their resumes.
Steve Albini, iconoclastic rock musician and engineer, dies at 61
Saxophonist David Sanborn, 6-time Grammy winner, has died at age 78 The adult contemporary star, who became a reluctant giant of smooth jazz in the 1980s, died on Sunday after a six-year battle with prostate cancer.
John Barbata, Drummer for the Turtles and Jefferson Airplane, Dies at 79
Charlie Colin, founder of US rock band Train, dies aged 58 The band call him “the sweetest guy”, praising his “unique bass playing and beautiful guitar work”.
Morgan Spurlock, Oscar-nominated documentarian, dead at 53
John Koerner, Bluesman Who Inspired a Young Bob Dylan, Dies at 85
Disney composer Richard M. Sherman has died at 95 Sherman and his brother Robert became Disney Studios’ first ever in-house songwriters. They won two Oscars for their songs and score to Mary Poppins and composed the classic “It’s a Small World.”
Doug Ingle, the Voice of Iron Butterfly, Is Dead at 78
Iconic French singer Françoise Hardy dies aged 80 Hardy burst on to the music scene in 1962, inspiring the likes of Mick Jagger and Bob Dylan.
Jerry West, One of Basketball’s Greatest Players, Dies at 86 He was a sharpshooting, high-scoring Hall of Fame guard for the Lakers and later an executive with the team.
Mark James, ‘Suspicious Minds’ Songwriter, Is Dead at 83
Johnny Canales, an iconic Tejano music pioneer and a trailblazing TV host, dies at 77 TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO The popular, long-running The Johnny Canales Show is credited with introducing Selena Quintanilla to mainstream audiences and helping to popularize the genre.
Angela Bofill, R&B Hitmaker With a Silky Voice, Dies at 70
Willie Mays, the Giants’ electrifying ‘Say Hey Kid,’ dies at 93
Donald Sutherland, veteran actor known for roles in ‘MAS*H,’ ‘Hunger Games,’ has died Donald Sutherland, Shape-Shifting Movie Star, Dies at 88 In a wide-ranging career (from “MAS*H” to “Ordinary People” to “The Hunger Games”), he could be endearing, menacing or just plain odd.
James Chance, No Wave and Punk-Funk Pioneer, Dies at 71
Kinky Friedman, Musician and Humorist Who Slew Sacred Cows, Dies at 79
Martin Mull, veteran character actor known for roles in ‘Roseanne’ and ‘Veep,’ dies at 80
Joe Bonsall, a 50-year member of The Oak Ridge Boys, dead at 76
Shelley Duvall, star of ‘The Shining,’ dead at 75
Ruth Westheimer, the Sex Guru Known as Dr. Ruth, Dies at 96 Frank and funny, the taboo-breaking psychologist said things on television and radio that would have been shocking coming from almost anyone else.
Richard Simmons, who believed fitness is for everyone, dies at 76
Shannen Doherty, ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ and ‘Charmed’ star, dead at 53
Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda died at age 86
Bill Walton, the Hall of Fame center who won a record 88 straight games at UCLA, won two NBA championships and later put the “color” in color commentator, died May 27 following a prolonged battle with cancer, the NBA announced. He was 71.
Dave Loggins, Who Wrote Hits for Himself and Others, Dies at 76 “Please Come to Boston” was his only pop hit, but as a songwriter he was anything but a one-hit wonder in country music circles. ‘I’ve lived in an incredible time’:
Comic Bob Newhart dies at 94 Best known for an everyman persona that powered two classic TV sitcoms, Newhart managed to be the funniest guy in the room while playing unassuming characters.
Lou Dobbs, the controversial Fox News host, has died The longtime Fox contributor was 78 years old.
Happy Traum, Mainstay of the Folk Music World, Dies at 86
Bernice Johnson Reagon, a Musical Voice for Civil Rights, Is Dead at 81
The Four Tops’ Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir dead at 88 The Motown group is known for Reach Out I’ll Be There and I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).
Influential Blues musician John Mayall has died at 90
Bob Booker, Whose J.F.K. Parody Was a Runaway Hit, Dies at 92
Jerry Miller, 81, Lauded Guitarist With the ’60s Band Moby Grape, Dies
Toumani Diabaté plucked the kora’s 21 strings. The world fell in love with his music The musician died this month at age 58. His collaborators are paying tribute to “a great artist who belongs to the world.”
William L. Calley Jr., Convicted in My Lai Massacre, Is Dead at 80 Hundreds of Vietnamese civilians died at the hands of American soldiers, but Lieutenant Calley was the only one found guilty.
Gena Rowlands, Actress Who Brought Raw Drama to Her Roles, Dies at 94 Known for playing on-the-verge characters, she twice earned Oscar nominations for her work in films directed by John Cassavetes, her husband.
Jack Russell, the former singer of the band Great White, dies at 63 The band is behind such hits as “Once Bitten Twice Shy,” “The Angel Song” and “Rock Me.”
Greg Kihn, 75, Dies; Scored Hits With ‘Jeopardy’ and ‘The Breakup Song’
Maurice Williams, Whose ‘Stay’ Was a Hit for Him and Others, Dies at 86
Phil Donahue, Talk Host Who Made Audiences Part of the Show, Dies at 88
Mitzi McCall, Comedian Who Confronted Beatlemania and Lost, Dies at 93 Mitzi McCall in 1955, a few years before she began performing a comedy act with her husband, Charlie Brill.
Russell Malone, Acclaimed Jazz Guitarist, Dies at 60
Hettie Jones, Poet and Author Who Nurtured the Beats, Dies at 90
Pete Wade, Guitarist on Countless Nashville Hits, Dies at 89 Pete Wade at a Country Music Hall of Fame ceremony in 2015 with a guitar that once belonged to Grady Martin, one of his early influences.
Fatman Scoop, a D.J. and Rapper, Dies at 56
James Darren, actor in ‘Gidget’ and ‘TJ Hooker,’ dies at 88
Sergio Mendes, 83, Dies; Brought Brazilian Rhythms to the Pop Charts
James Earl Jones, iconic voice of Darth Vader in ‘Star Wars’ and Mufasa in ‘The Lion King,’ dead at 93
Frankie Beverly, an R&B and funk legend, dies at 77 As the leader of Maze, Beverly crafted songs like the slinky, euphoric “Happy Feelin’s” and the breakup anthem “Before I Let Go,” wedding his dulcet singing to buoyant grooves.
Herbie Flowers, ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ Bassist, Dies at 86 Herbie Flowers in about 1985. According to the BBC, he played on more than 500 hit albums.
Jackson 5 singer Tito Jackson dead at 70 Tito was an original member of the Jackson Five pop group and brother of the late Michael Jackson.
JD Souther, who collaborated on ‘Heartache Tonight’ and other Eagles hits, dies at 78 Souther was a prolific songwriter and musician who helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s with his collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt.
Maggie Smith, scene-stealing actor famed for Harry Potter and ‘Downton Abbey,’ dies at 89
Kris Kristofferson, musical rebel and movie star, has died at age 88
Pete Rose, Major League Baseball’s all-time hit king, has died at 83
Dikembe Mutombo, a Hall of Fame player and tireless advocate, dies at 58 Mutombo spent his retirement on humanitarian causes. He spoke nine languages and founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, concentrating on improving the quality of life for people in the Congo.
John Amos, star of ‘Good Times’ and ‘Roots,’ dead at 84
Ethel Kennedy, Passionate Supporter of the Family Legacy, Dies at 96 Ethel Kennedy, human rights activist and widow of Robert F. Kennedy, dies at 96
Mitzi Gaynor, Leading Lady of Movie Musicals, Is Dead at 93 She was best known for starring in the 1958 screen version of “South Pacific.” But her Hollywood career was brief, and she soon shifted her focus to Las Vegas and TV.
Liam Payne died on Wednesday after falling from the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31.
Libby Titus, Introspective Singer and Songwriter, Dies at 77 Libby Titus was a highly regarded songwriter and backup vocalist in the 1970s, but she never scaled the commercial heights as a solo artist.
Paul Di’Anno, Early Iron Maiden Frontman, Dies at 66
Thelma Mothershed Wair, Little Rock Nine Student, Dies at 83 Thelma Mothershed Wair at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., in 2007.
Tarzan star Ron Ely dies aged 86 The actor also appeared in hit 1980s television shows Wonder Woman and The Love Boat.
Jack Jones, a Suave, Hit-Making and Enduring Crooner, Dies at 86 The singer Jack Jones on “The Jerry Lewis Show” in 1968. While his popularity peaked in the 1960s, Mr. Jones seemed always to have stepped out of an earlier generation, one that dressed in tuxedos for the songs of Tin Pan Alley.
Grateful Dead bassist and founding member Phil Lesh has died at 84
Teri Garr, actor, comedian and multiple sclerosis ambassador, dies at 79 Garr’s breakout role was as sexy Inga in Young Frankenstein. She earned an Oscar nomination for her role in the 1982 film Tootsie, and played Phoebe’s mom on the sitcom Friends.
Quincy Jones, pop mastermind and ‘Thriller’ producer, dies At 91
Lou Donaldson, Soulful Master of the Alto Saxophone, Dies at 98
Roy Haynes, pioneering modern jazz drummer, has died at 99 Haynes influenced generations of drummers and helped change the direction of jazz improvisation.
Peter Sinfield, Lyricist for King Crimson, Dies at 80
Alice Brock, who inspired Arlo Guthrie’s ‘Alice’s Restaurant,’ dies at 83 WBUR The hippie-era icon who inspired folk singer Arlo Guthrie’s epic, anti-establishment song “Alice’s Restaurant” has died. Radio stations often play the 18-minute song on Thanksgiving.
Earl Holliman, Rugged and Familiar Screen Presence, Dies at 96 While never a big star, he was a recognizable one, with roles in “The Twilight Zone,” “Giant,” “Forbidden Planet” and the 1970s series “Police Woman.”
Acclaimed poet and activist Nikki Giovanni dies at 81
Michael Cole, ‘Mod Squad’ Actor, Dies at 84
The Amazing Kreskin, Mentalist and 1970s Television Star, Dies at 89
Rocky Colavito, All-Star Slugger for Cleveland, Dies at 91
Zakir Hussain, legendary tabla virtuoso who defied genres, dies at 73 Hussain’s career spanned over five decades, during which he was revered as both a national treasure in India and admired worldwide.
Dick Van Arsdale, 81, One of First Identical Twins in the N.B.A., Dies
Michael Brewer, Whose ‘One Toke’ Was a Big Hit, Is Dead at 80 Mr. Brewer was half of the folk-rock duo Brewer & Shipley, whose “One Toke Over the Line,” a ditty about marijuana, ran afoul of Nixon-era censors.
Wayne Kramer Guitarist whose revolutionary riffs in MC5 paved the way for punk and later inspired him to co-found Jail Guitar Doors USA, which provides instruments to inmates serving time April 30, 1948 — Feb. 2, 2024
Clarence “Frogman” Henry New Orleans R&B singer and pianist whose signature croak can be heard on his song “Ain’t Got No Home” March 19, 1937 — April 7, 2024
Duane Eddy With producer Lee Hazlewood, the unfussy-yet-idiosyncratic guitarist put the twang in early rock and roll April 26, 1938 — April 30, 2024
Gary Floyd Unapologetic frontman of the San Francisco queercore punk band the Dicks Dec. 11, 1952 — April 30, 2024
John Barbata Drummer for Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Jefferson Airplane and The Turtles, including on the latter’s 1967 hit “Happy Together” April 1, 1945 — May 8, 2024
Dennis Thompson The drummer’s thunderous swing drove the proto-punk chaos of MC5 Sept. 7, 1948 — May 9, 2024
Dave Loggins The Nashville songwriter penned songs for Kenny Rogers and the Oak Ridge Boys, and had his own hit in “Please Come to Boston” Nov. 10, 1947 — July 10, 2024
Joe Chambers Founding member of the psychedelic soul band The Chambers Brothers Aug. 22, 1942 — Aug. 15, 2024
Dave Mallet Alison Krauss, Pete Seeger and many others have recorded his songs, especially the folk standard “Garden Song,” which John Denver performed with The Muppets April 21, 1951 — Dec. 17, 2024
Richard Perry, Record Producer With a Golden Touch, Dies at 82 The record producer Richard Perry in 1982. He had a deft ear for crafting the sharpest and most appealing performance of a song.
Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ dies at 73 Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her in his adaptation of the Shakespeare tragedy. The film won two Oscars and Hussey won a Golden Globe for best new actress for her part as Juliet.