John Mayall dead aged 90: ‘Father of British blues’ dies at his home in California – after momentous career that saw his Bluesbreakers band influence stars including Eric Clapton and Mick Fleetwood

The father of British blues John Mayall has died at the age of 90 after health problems forced him to stop touring.

The musician died Monday at his California home surrounded by his family, according to a statement on his Instagram page.

The British blues pioneer led the band Bluesbreakers, which influenced stars such as Eric Clapton and Mick Fleetwood.

In 2021, he retired from touring due to health issues, his family announced when they announced his passing.

In a statement, they said: ‘It is with heavy hearts that we must announce that John Mayall passed away peacefully at his home in California on July 22, 2024, surrounded by his beloved family.

‘Health problems that forced John to end his epic touring career have finally brought peace to one of the world’s greatest travelers.

‘John Mayall has tirelessly helped us educate, inspire and entertain for 90 years.’

Today a statement was released on John Mayall’s official Instagram page announcing his passing

The musician (pictured in 1991) died Monday at his California home surrounded by his family, according to a statement on his Instagram page.

Mayall is credited with helping to develop a blues revival of the late 1960s and has been described as the “father of British blues.” He is pictured here performing on stage at the Miles Davis Hall during the 42nd Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland

Born in Macclesfield and raised in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, Mayall founded the Bluesbreakers in the early 1960s.

He is credited with contributing to the blues revival of the late 1960s and has been called the ‘father of British blues’.

The Bluesbreakers began performing at the Marquee Club, a small and relatively cheap club in the heart of London’s West End.

In 1964 Mayall had their first recording date with producer Ian Samwell. The band recorded two songs: ‘Crawling Up a Hill’ and ‘Mr James’.

But it wasn’t until April 1965, when former Yardbirds guitarist Eric Clapton replaced Roger Dean, that Mayall’s career really took off.

In 1965, with Eric Clapton as their new guitarist, the Bluesbreakers began to attract significant attention.

When Clapton left for a trip to Greece that summer, Peter Green — founder of Fleetwood Mac — took his place, with Jack Bruce — of the rock band Cream — playing bass. In November 1965, Clapton returned and Green left.

The Bluesbreakers are seen as a training ground for other great musicians, including John McVie and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, Mick Taylor who played with the Rolling Stones, Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor of Canned Heat and Jon Mark and John Almond, who later formed the Mark-Almond Band.

John Mayall (pictured) in London, March 4, 1971

Mayall performing on stage in 1979

Bluesbreakers by John Mayall: John Mayer, Eric Clapton, John McVie, Hughie Flint

John Mayall poses during an interview in Madrid, Spain, on February 13, 2017

The Bluesbreakers (pictured) in 1969 in Hyde Park, London. Left: Charlie Watts, Mick Taylor, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman

Pictured: Klaus Voormann, John Mayall, Joni Mitchell, Debby Chesher and Commander Cody promoting the book ‘Starart’, which featured artwork by them and other musicians

Mayall protested in interviews that he was not a talent scout, but played out of love for the music he first heard on his father’s 78 rpm records.

Although he admitted in an interview with The Guardian that he had “managed to pick out some very special people”.

“I’m a bandleader and I know what I want to play in my band — who can be good friends of mine,” Mayall said in an interview with the Southern Vermont Review. “It’s definitely a family. It’s a small thing, really.”

Although Mayall never achieved the fame of some of his illustrious former members, he was still performing in his late 80s.

“I’ve never had a hit song, I’ve never won a Grammy Award, and Rolling Stone has never made a creation about me,” he said in a 2013 interview with the Santa Barbara Independent. “I’m still an underground artist.”

Mayall protested in interviews that he was not a talent scout, but played out of love for the music he first heard on his father’s 78s. He is pictured here at the Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival on August 27, 2017

English blues and rock musician John Mayall performed at the Bottom Line nightclub in Greenwich Village in 1979

Although Mayall never achieved the fame of some of his illustrious alumni, he was still performing in his late 80s. He is pictured on stage at the 42nd Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux

Mayall was nominated for a Grammy for Wake Up Call, featuring guest artists Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples, Mick Taylor and Albert Collins. He also received a second nomination in 2022 for his album The Sun Is Shining Down.

He was selected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2024 and his 1966 album Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton is considered one of the greatest British blues albums.

In 2005 he was appointed OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire).

Mayall’s father also played guitar and banjo, and his teenage son was fascinated by his boogie-woogie piano records.

Mayall performing with the Bluesbreakers at the Deutsche Museum in Munich, West Germany, on January 21, 1970

Mayall once said: ‘The only reason I was born in Macclesfield is because my father was a drinker and his favourite pub was there.’

He learned to play the piano one hand at a time: one year with the left hand, one year with the right hand, so that “I wouldn’t get tangled up.”

The piano was his main instrument, but he also played the guitar and harmonica. He also sang with a characteristic, tense voice.

With only the help of drummer Keef Hartley, Mayall played all the other instruments on his 1967 album Blues Alone.

The Bluesbreakers used a rotating group of musicians who were in and out of different bands.

Mayall performs with his band the Bluesbreakers in Munich in 1969. The influential band was a training ground for Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and many other superstars

Mayall’s 1968 album Blues from Laurel Canyon heralded a permanent move to the United States and a change of direction. He disbanded the Bluesbreakers and worked with two guitars and drums.

In the 1970s Mayall hit a personal low point, but he still toured, performing over 100 shows a year.

In 1982 he reformed the Bluesbreakers, recruiting Taylor and McVie, but after two years the personnel changed again.

In 2008, Mayall announced that he would be dropping the Bluesbreaker name for good. In 2013, he led the John Mayall Band.