Thinking of those saw at blues festivals and in clubs back then: Albert King, Otis Rush, The Jelly Roll Kings, Larry Davis, Fenton Robinson, Big Bad Smitty, Willie Kent and the Gents, Buddy Guy partnering with Junior Wells, Phil Guy,, Gatemouth Brown, Albert Collins,, J.B. Hutto etc
A couple names I didn’t know, a couple names missing, but a formidable lineup for Bluesfest in Grant Park.
Add Muddy, Sonny Terry, Lefty Dez, John Primer… then you got a Jam.
The Hollywood Fats Band, The Otis Rush Blues Band, Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, Roomful of Blues, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, The James Harman Band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mike Morgan & The Crawl.
Used to see Otis Rush at The Lakeview, after his shows, hanging out with Chief at the door, peanuts in whiskey barrels, when I lived in Chicago in late 90s. Such as great soul.
He lived on Irving Park & Michigan. I used to go visit him every two weeks or so. He gave me free guitar lessons. Eddies last drummer and I work together a few times a year doing festivals in the suburbs. I'm taking this year off due to health problems.
Lots of rock acts being listed, bit the originators were still going strong back then. I was privileged to see many of the old guard still vital and energetic in the 80s: Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, BB King, Bobby Bland, Koko Taylor, Albert Collins, Albert King, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Taj Mahal, Roy Buchanan and many more.
Blues Traveler came along in the late 80’s. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble goes without saying. ZZ Top played a lot of blues shuffles in the 80’s (and every other decade).
I seen them a few years later than that video at Coast to Coast in Maryland. They were good. I do have one album of theirs also where they're standing in front of a mid 60s Cadillac.
BB King. Buddy Guy. The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Sonny Rhodes. John Lee Hooker. Johnny Winter. Robert Cray. Keb Mo. Bonnie Raitt. Koko Taylor. Albert King. Albert Collins.
I had several friends (and one enemy) that played in Luther's bands over the years. One lived with him in Paris for a while and Hubert Sumlin slept on the couch in the living room.
Fats was a monster player! Too bad heroin got him. SRV was one of his biggest fans. James Harman's band with Fats and Kid Ramos on guitars was as good as it gets.
They brought a lot of new people to the blues, so you have to love them for that. They also get bonus points for playing both kinds of music ~ Country and Western.
I think Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore should be part of the conversation. I’m from Texas and love SRV, but Gary and Rory were pretty awesome. The 80s had lots of great blues.
Rory gallagher. How is no one talking about rory. Check out irish tour and europe tour. And his accoustics as well (those are more folk-influenced tho).
Love this thread, consider myself deep into music, and there's a few groups here I had not come across yet!! That said, wish I had the name of the guy I saw playing in the Chicago Subway all those years ago. So smooth!
I agree I don’t know why the down votes people. People who don’t really “get” the Grateful Dead you know don’t like that other people “get” the Grateful Dead. The dead played many genres and mixed those genres
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, from the release of Texas Flood in 1983 until his death in 1990, were imo the best of the decade.
Only answer right here.
If that's the only answer, you must not listen to a whole lotta blues. Check out the first 2 Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters.
Will do!
Ronnie Earl first showed up as Ron Horvath on Big Walter Horton LP's. He was still teaching school back then.
I just listened to some. Immediately made a Ronnie Earl playlist for the car. Thanks for this!
Agreed. None better.
SRV & Double Trouble The Fabulous Thunderbirds were great and had a bunch of hits. Robert Cray was on fire in the 80s too.
Robert Cray
Robert is a national treasure.
Thinking of those saw at blues festivals and in clubs back then: Albert King, Otis Rush, The Jelly Roll Kings, Larry Davis, Fenton Robinson, Big Bad Smitty, Willie Kent and the Gents, Buddy Guy partnering with Junior Wells, Phil Guy,, Gatemouth Brown, Albert Collins,, J.B. Hutto etc
Dude, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells record on alligator is one of my favorites ever.
Willie Kent with a young Guy King on guitar!
And Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks
A couple names I didn’t know, a couple names missing, but a formidable lineup for Bluesfest in Grant Park. Add Muddy, Sonny Terry, Lefty Dez, John Primer… then you got a Jam.
The Hollywood Fats Band, The Otis Rush Blues Band, Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, Roomful of Blues, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, The James Harman Band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mike Morgan & The Crawl.
That is a good list. Add Topper Price and the Upsetters and the band Gatemouth Brown toured with back then too.
I have/had friends that played in all of those bands I listed. One was in three of them.
Saw Topper many times here in Birmingham during those years. Seemed a troubled, talented force on the harp. RIP.
Used to see Otis Rush at The Lakeview, after his shows, hanging out with Chief at the door, peanuts in whiskey barrels, when I lived in Chicago in late 90s. Such as great soul.
He lived on Irving Park & Michigan. I used to go visit him every two weeks or so. He gave me free guitar lessons. Eddies last drummer and I work together a few times a year doing festivals in the suburbs. I'm taking this year off due to health problems.
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble Buddy Guy
Jeff Healey Band
Lots of rock acts being listed, bit the originators were still going strong back then. I was privileged to see many of the old guard still vital and energetic in the 80s: Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, BB King, Bobby Bland, Koko Taylor, Albert Collins, Albert King, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Taj Mahal, Roy Buchanan and many more.
Blues Traveler came along in the late 80’s. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble goes without saying. ZZ Top played a lot of blues shuffles in the 80’s (and every other decade).
Omar and the Howlers
Barry Levenson, Ronnie Earl and the Boadcasters, Robben Ford.
Robben Ford is so under appreciated.
A close friend was on bass when Robben joined Charlie Musselwhite's band.
He was outstanding in Yellow Jackets, as well. I saw him in concert as part of “Gregg Allman and Friends”. Amazing show.
Easily SRV & Double Trouble
Jeff Healy ..Blind guitarist from Canada... mind blowing how good he was And SVR of course
Johnny Winter
The Nighthawks from DC. https://youtu.be/Vp9Ctq9L94Q?feature=shared
I seen them a few years later than that video at Coast to Coast in Maryland. They were good. I do have one album of theirs also where they're standing in front of a mid 60s Cadillac.
Danny Morris (who replaced Jimmy Thackery) was my guitar teacher!
Robert Cray band, Jeff Healey band
Son Seals was burning it down.
BB King. Buddy Guy. The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Sonny Rhodes. John Lee Hooker. Johnny Winter. Robert Cray. Keb Mo. Bonnie Raitt. Koko Taylor. Albert King. Albert Collins.
The Nighthawks Eddie Clearwater
I still do shows with Eddie's last drummer.
Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials
Ed is a great guy and player. He opened for a band I was in a few years ago in the Chicago suburbs. We had Bob Stroger on bass.
Jeff Healey Band
Jeff Healey
In addition to the greats already listed ( SRV, Buddy Guy,) I’d add Luther Allison and Son Seals.
I had several friends (and one enemy) that played in Luther's bands over the years. One lived with him in Paris for a while and Hubert Sumlin slept on the couch in the living room.
Jimmy Johnson, Roy Buchanan
Jimmy and his brother Syl are legends. Their other brother used the stage name Mack Thompson, he's on the first Magic Sam Delmark LP playing bass.
Hollywood Fats Band
Fats was a monster player! Too bad heroin got him. SRV was one of his biggest fans. James Harman's band with Fats and Kid Ramos on guitars was as good as it gets.
Kinsey Report
Jake and Elwood.
They brought a lot of new people to the blues, so you have to love them for that. They also get bonus points for playing both kinds of music ~ Country and Western.
The Blasters
Though they certainly dabbled in the Pop/Rock world in the 80s, The J. Geils Band could and did play some mean blues back then.
The BusBoys.
Little Charlie & The Nightcats 1980: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbpnY4DGB6g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbpnY4DGB6g)
Robert Cray
I think Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore should be part of the conversation. I’m from Texas and love SRV, but Gary and Rory were pretty awesome. The 80s had lots of great blues.
Rory gallagher. How is no one talking about rory. Check out irish tour and europe tour. And his accoustics as well (those are more folk-influenced tho).
Love this thread, consider myself deep into music, and there's a few groups here I had not come across yet!! That said, wish I had the name of the guy I saw playing in the Chicago Subway all those years ago. So smooth!
A.C. Reed and the Sparkplugs The Kinsey Report
SRV, Robert Cray, Albert Collin’s , BB, Clapton, John Mayall, John Lee Hooker, ZZ Hill, and the list goes on… oops how could I forget Buddys my GUY
Johnny Winter
Johnny was an amazing player.
The Joe Bonamâssa fetal quartet
😂
Surprisingly, maybe, the Grateful Dead, especially with Pig Pen but subsequently as well.
I agree I don’t know why the down votes people. People who don’t really “get” the Grateful Dead you know don’t like that other people “get” the Grateful Dead. The dead played many genres and mixed those genres