Hi there. My name is Doc and I am a Bluesaholic. I have had this affliction since my early youth in the late 1950s and early 1960’s. At first, I dabbled in BB King and Albert King but I soon moved onto the deeper and more addictive things like Elmore James, Freddie King, and Bessie Smith.
I ask that you don’t get me started off on the ‘blind’ ones like Blind Boy Fuller, Blind Joe Reynolds, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie Johnson and Blind Willie McTell. And as for the time I discovered the ‘big’ brands like Big Joe Williams, Big Joe Turner, Bag Maceo and Big Mama Thornton – Wow what an eye-opener! They were dark times indeed. The day I discovered Robert Johnson and all his delights was the earliest vintage I could find and have since appreciated all that he did for us Bluesaholics.
Nowadays, I have a preference for the harder ‘on the rocks’ things like the Blues-Rock of Led Zeppelin, Whitesnake, Rory Gallagher, Walter Trout, King King and Joe Bonamassa and the ‘sweeter’ tipples like Rebecca Downes, Sari Schorr and Chantel McGregor. They keep themselves true to the original flavours but enhance them for modern tastes. Nope, I am proud to stand here today and confess my ‘sins’.
Because, dear reader, without these fine artists (and many others) we wouldn’t have the Rock music we have today, in virtually all its various guises. But don't take my word for it. Just ask the likes of David Coverdale or Ritchie Blackmore or Jimmy Page or ... well, the list is endless.