Battle of the Bands - BLUES

[Corki]

Week 3 of the Battle of the Bands competition is now upon us. The next genre up is Blues. Below are the three nominations.

The Archers have nominated... MUDDY WATER

McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician and is generally considered "the Father of Chicago blues". Muddy Waters was a huge inspiration for the British beat explosion in the 1960s and was ranked #17 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. In 1948 Waters' "I Can't Be Satisfied" and "I Feel Like Going Home" became big and his popularity in clubs began to take off. Soon after Waters' signature tune, "Rollin' Stone", became a smash hit. In fact the Muddy Waters recording that they (The Rolling Stones) got their name from was Mannish Boy. Muddy sings "I'm a rolling stone" in the song.
We felt Muddy was a good fit due to his initiative and drive in a competitive genre at he time, and his inspiration on later musicians outside of blues.

The Cavalry have nominated... B.B. KING

For nearly half a century, Riley B. King - better known as B.B. King - has defined the blues for a worldwide audience. Since he started recording in the 1940s, he has released over fifty albums, many of them Blues classics. He has one of the world's most identifiable guitar styles, borrowing from Blind Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker and others.

King was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. B.B. continues to tour extensively, averaging over 250 concerts per year around the world. B.B. King's most popular crossover hit, 1970's "The Thrill Is Gone," went to #15 pop, an accomplishment few Blues musicians can claim. He is truly the King of Blues!

The Infantry have nominated... JOHN LEE HOOKER

John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1917 – June 21, 2001) was an influential American post-war blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter born in Coahoma County near Clarksdale, Mississippi. John developed a half-spoken style that was his trademark. Though similar to the early Delta blues, his music was rhythmically free. John Lee Hooker could be said to embody his own unique genre of the blues, often incorporating the boogie-woogie piano style and a driving rhythm into his masterful and idiosyncratic blues guitar and singing. His best known songs include "Boogie Chillen" (1948) and "Boom Boom" (1962). Hooker recorded over 100 albums.
He lived the last years of his life in the San Francisco Bay Area, where, in 1997, he opened a nightclub called "John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom Room", after one of his hits.
His songs have been covered by The White Stripes, MC5, The Doors, George Thorogood, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Van Morrison, The Yardbirds, The Animals, R. L. Burnside, the J. Geils Band and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

Among his many awards, Hooker has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 1991 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Two of his songs, "Boogie Chillen" and "Boom Boom" were named to the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. "Boogie Chillen" was included as one of the Songs of the Century. He was also inducted in 1980 into the Blues Hall of Fame. In 2000, Hooker was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sample songs:
John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom Boom
John Lee Hooker & Santana - The Healer
John Lee Hooker and Bonnie Raitt - I'm In The Mood

There you go. There are the 3 nominations. All you now need to do is pick who you want to win (please highlight in some way or another) and go through as the Champion of Blues for the Grand Final! You have until Saturday 24th May 2008 to make your choice!

[Myndrunner]

B.B. King is the most commercially popular and biggest international Blues sensation.  He is the only one on that list that non-Blues fans would identify, yet he remains the all time great.

Again, HAIL TO THE KING!!!

[Taymist]

Well that's patently not true since I'm not a Blues fan but I know more of John Lee Hooker than B.B. King. My vote goes to the former.

[Myndrunner]

well, hearing about him in the Infantry Privy boards doesn't count.....

[Apollo277]

John Lee Hooker is one of the original bluesmen, a true rebel and amazing songwriter. I adore BB King and Muddy Waters as well, but I think Johnny's taking my vote.

[Climhazzard]

Well as I'm not a big fan of blues, I actually listened to songs from these artists and have come to the conclusion that John Lee Hooker gets my vote for this one!

[KingKastchei]

John Lee Hooker all the way!  No question that B.B. King and Muddy waters are great, mind, but Hooker is THE original blues man.  Doesn't get any better than him.

[Kara_J]

John Lee Hooker for me..though I'm not much of a Blues fan

[Arrandion]

I vote for John Lee Hooker!   

[Taymist]

well, hearing about him in the Infantry Privy boards doesn't count.....

Just as well I wasn't counting that then. 

[Corki]

B. B. King gets the M-G's vote. Great voice, and pure genius in my eyes.

[BridMorgan]

B.B. King gets my vote!!