British music pioneer John Mayall dies aged 90
The Bluesbreakers leader became known as the “Father of British Blues” after the release of his 1967 album, Blues Alone.
Mayall died at age 90 at his home in California, a post on his Instagram account confirmed on July 23.
“The health issues that forced John to end his epic touring career have finally brought peace to one of the world's greatest road warriors,” the post read.
Mayall is credited with nurturing the talents of Eric Clapton and Mick Fleetwood, who played with The Bluesbreakers before leaving to form their own bands, Cream and Fleetwood Mac, respectively.
Other members who went on to greater fame after being with the Bluesbreakers included John McVie and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, Mick Taylor, who went on to spend five years with the Rolling Stones, and Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor of Canned Heat.
Mayall frequently stressed that his interest was in making music, not in creating stars.
“I'm a band leader, I know what I want to play with my band, and who are going to be my good friends,” he told the Southern Vermont Review. “It's definitely a family. It's a really small one.”
In another interview, he explained that he was happy being away from mainstream popularity.
“I don't have a hit record, I don't have a Grammy, Rolling Stone has never written about me,” he told the Santa Barbara Independent in 2013. “I'm still an underground performer.”