With the release of his latest solo EP, Vertiginous Canyons, the former Police guitarist shares in-depth on his personal journey from Romani caravan to becoming a peer of Eric Clapton’s to shaping a modern dialect of jazz-rock innovation.
The father of British blues, who died this week at age 90, is remembered in testimonials from Robben Ford, Rick Vito, Coco Montoya, Buddy Whittington, Carolyn Wonderland, and others from his post-Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor years. Dan Forte also looks at Mayall’s compelling discography.
He was dubbed “the father of British blues,” but Mayall’s influence was worldwide, and he nurtured some of the finest guitarists in the genre, including Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Harvey Mandel, Coco Montoya, and Walter Trout. Mayall died at his California home on Monday, at age 90.
The roots-rock guitarist and songwriter’s role in the evolution of the country-and-blues-infused genre spoke to his innate ambition and larger-than-life creative vision.
