# List of blues musicians

Blues musicians are musical artists who are primarily recognized as writing, performing, and recording blues music. They come from different eras and include styles such as ragtime-vaudeville, Delta and country blues, and urban styles from Chicago and the West Coast. In the last several decades, blues music has developed a less regional character and has been influenced by rhythm and blues, rock, and other popular music.

## Pre-1940 blues

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List of Pre-1940 blues musicians, showing name, birth and death year, origin, primary style, and references :
| Name | Birth year | Death year | Origin | Primary style |
| Mozelle Alderson | 1904 | 1994 | Ohio | Country blues |
| Alger "Texas" Alexander | 1900 | 1954 | Texas | Country blues |
| Ora Alexander | c.1909 | Unknown | Alabama | Classic female blues |
| Albert Ammons | 1907 | 1949 | Illinois | Boogie woogie |
| Pink Anderson | 1900 | 1974 | South Carolina | Piedmont blues |
| Kokomo Arnold | 1901* | 1968 | Georgia | Acoustic blues |
| Barbecue Bob | 1902 | 1931 | Georgia | Acoustic blues |
| Ed Bell | 1905 | 1960s | Alabama | Piedmont blues |
| Gladys Bentley | 1907 | 1960 | Pennsylvania | Vaudeville blues |
| Black Ace | 1905 | 1972 | Texas | Country blues |
| Scrapper Blackwell | 1903 | 1962 | North Carolina | Urban blues |
| Blind Blake | 1896 | 1934 | Florida | Piedmont blues |
| Lucille Bogan | 1897 | 1948 | Mississippi | Classic female blues |
| Ted Bogan | 1909 | 1990 | South Carolina | Country blues |
| Son Bonds | 1909 | 1947 | Tennessee | Country blues |
| Big Bill Broonzy | 1893* | 1958 | Mississippi | Urban blues |
| Kitty Brown | 1899 | Unknown | New York | Classic female blues |
| Willie Brown | 1900 | 1952 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Bumble Bee Slim | 1905 | 1968 | Georgia | Urban blues |
| Gus Cannon | 1883* | 1979 | Mississippi | Jug band |
| Leroy Carr | 1905 | 1935 | Tennessee | Urban blues |
| Doctor Clayton | 1898 | 1947 | Georgia | Country blues |
| Sam Collins | 1887 | 1949 | Louisiana | Country blues |
| Elizabeth Cotten | 1893 | 1987 | North Carolina | Country blues |
| Floyd Council | 1911 | 1976 | North Carolina | Piedmont blues |
| Ida Cox | 1896* | 1967 | Georgia | Vaudeville blues |
| Blind Blues Darby | 1906 | 1975 | Kentucky | St. Louis blues |
| Reverend Gary Davis | 1896 | 1972 | South Carolina | Piedmont blues |
| Walter Davis | 1911* | 1963 | Mississippi | St. Louis blues |
| Tom Delaney | 1889 | 1963 | South Carolina | Urban blues |
| Georgia Tom Dorsey | 1899 | 1993 | Georgia | Urban blues |
| Little Buddy Doyle | 1911* | 1960* | Tennessee | Memphis blues |
| Bernice Edwards | 1907 | 1969 | Texas | Classic female blues |
| Sleepy John Estes | 1899* | 1977 | Tennessee | Country blues |
| Ethel Finnie | 1898 | 1981 | Louisiana | Classic female blues |
| Blind Boy Fuller | 1907* | 1941 | North Carolina | Piedmont blues |
| Jesse Fuller | 1896 | 1976 | Georgia | Piedmont blues |
| Jazz Gillum | 1904* | 1966 | Mississippi | Urban blues |
| Boyd Gilmore | 1905 | 1976 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Coot Grant | 1893 | 1970 | Alabama | Classic female blues |
| Lil Green | 1919* | 1954 | Mississippi | Urban blues |
| Shirley Griffith | 1907 | 1974 | Mississippi | Country blues |
| Richard "Hacksaw" Harney | 1902 | 1973 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Lucille Hegamin | 1897* | 1970 | Georgia | Classic female blues |
| Edmonia Henderson | 1898 | 1947 | Tennessee | Classic female blues |
| Katherine Henderson | 1909 | Unknown | Missouri | Classic female blues |
| Edna Hicks | 1895 | 1925 | Louisiana | Classic female blues |
| Son House | 1902 | 1988 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Peg Leg Howell | 1888 | 1966 | Georgia | Country blues |
| Alberta Hunter | 1895 | 1984 | Tennessee | Classic female blues |
| Mississippi John Hurt | 1894* | 1966 | Mississippi | Country blues |
| Jim Jackson | 1890* | 1937* | Mississippi | Country blues |
| Papa Charlie Jackson | 1890* | 1950* | Louisiana | Country blues |
| Skip James | 1902 | 1969 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Blind Lemon Jefferson | 1893 | 1929 | Texas | Country blues |
| Blind Willie Johnson | 1897 | 1945 | Texas | Gospel blues |
| Edith North Johnson | 1903 | 1988 | Missouri | Classic female blues |
| Lonnie Johnson | 1899 | 1970 | Louisiana | Urban blues |
| Mary Johnson | 1898 | 1983 | Mississippi | Classic female blues |
| Robert Johnson | 1911 | 1938 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Tommy Johnson | 1896 | 1956 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Little Hat Jones | 1899 | 1981 | Texas | Country blues |
| Lottie Kimbrough | 1893 | Unknown | Arkansas | Country blues |
| Lead Belly | 1889 | 1949 | Louisiana | Country blues |
| Furry Lewis | 1893* | 1981 | Mississippi | Country blues |
| Meade Lux Lewis | 1905 | 1964 | Illinois | Boogie woogie |
| Charley Lincoln | 1900 | 1963 | Georgia | Country blues |
| Mance Lipscomb | 1895 | 1976 | Texas | Country blues |
| Virginia Liston | 1890 | 1932 | Louisiana | Classic female blues |
| Robert Lockwood, Jr. | 1915 | 2006 | Arkansas | Delta blues |
| Cripple Clarence Lofton | 1887* | 1957 | Tennessee | Boogie woogie |
| Eddie Mapp | 1910 | 1931 | Georgia | Country blues |
| Sara Martin | 1884 | 1955 | Kentucky | Vaudeville blues |
| Lil McClintock | 1883 | Unknown | U.S. | Country blues |
| Kansas Joe McCoy | 1905 | 1950 | Mississippi | Country blues |
| Papa Charlie McCoy | 1909 | 1959 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Mississippi Fred McDowell | 1904 | 1972 | Tennessee | Delta blues |
| Charlie "Specks" McFadden | 1895 | 1966 | Illinois | Country blues |
| Fred McMullen | 1905 | Unknown | Florida | Piedmont blues |
| Jay McShann | 1916 | 2006 | Oklahoma | Blues |
| Blind Willie McTell | 1901* | 1959 | Georgia | Country blues |
| Memphis Minnie | 1897 | 1973 | Louisiana | Memphis blues |
| Mississippi Sheiks | | | Mississippi | Country blues |
| Little Brother Montgomery | 1906 | 1985 | Louisiana | Barrelhouse blues |
| Whistlin' Alex Moore | 1899 | 1989 | Texas | Boogie woogie |
| Buddy Moss | 1914 | 1984 | Georgia | Piedmont blues |
| Hambone Willie Newbern | 1901 | 1965 | Tennessee | Country blues |
| St. Louis Jimmy Oden | 1903 | 1977 | Tennessee | Urban blues |
| Charley Patton | 1891 | 1934 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Piano Red | 1911 | 1985 | Georgia | Boogie woogie |
| Buster Pickens | 1916 | 1964 | Texas | Country blues |
| Joe Pullum | 1905 | 1964 | Alabama | Urban blues |
| Ma Rainey | 1886* | 1939 | Georgia | Classic female blues |
| Red Nelson | 1907 | 1970 | Mississippi | Urban blues |
| Walter Roland | c.1902 or 1903 | 1972 | Alabama | Boogie woogie |
| Jimmy Rushing | 1903 | 1972 | Oklahoma | Urban blues |
| Dan Sane | 1896 | 1956 | Mississippi | Memphis blues |
| Alec Seward | 1901 | 1972 | Virginia | Piedmont blues |
| Robert Shaw | 1908 | 1985 | Texas | Boogie woogie |
| J.D. Short | 1902 | 1962 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Henry "Son" Sims | 1890 | 1958 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Bessie Smith | 1894 | 1937 | Tennessee | Classic female blues |
| Clara Smith | 1894* | 1935 | South Carolina | Classic female blues |
| J. T. "Funny Papa" Smith | 1885* | 1940* | U.S. | Country blues |
| Mamie Smith | 1883 | 1946 | Ohio | Vaudeville blues |
| Pinetop Sparks | 1910 | 1935 | Mississippi | Boogie woogie |
| Speckled Red | 1892 | 1973 | Louisiana | Boogie woogie |
| Victoria Spivey | 1906 | 1976 | Texas | Vaudeville blues |
| Frank Stokes | 1888* | 1955 | Tennessee | Memphis blues |
| Roosevelt Sykes | 1913 | 1984 | Arkansas | Urban blues |
| Tampa Red | 1904 | 1981 | Georgia | Urban blues |
| Johnny Temple | 1906 | 1968 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Henry Thomas | 1874 | 1930* | Texas | Country blues |
| Ramblin' Thomas | Unknown | Unknown | Louisiana | Country blues |
| Henry Townsend | 1909 | 2006 | Mississippi | St. Louis blues |
| Willie Trice | 1910 | 1977 | North Carolina | Piedmont blues |
| Bessie Tucker | c.1906 | 1933 | Texas | Country blues |
| Walter Vinson | 1901 | 1975 | Mississippi | Country blues |
| Sippie Wallace | 1898 | 1986 | Arkansas | Classic female blues |
| Washboard Sam | 1910 | 1966 | Arkansas | Country blues |
| Ethel Waters | 1896 | 1977 | Pennsylvania | Urban blues |
| Curley Weaver | 1906 | 1962 | Georgia | Country blues |
| Sylvester Weaver | 1897* | 1960 | Kentucky | Country blues |
| Casey Bill Weldon | 1909 | Unknown | Arkansas | Country blues |
| Peetie Wheatstraw | 1902 | 1941 | Tennessee | St. Louis blues |
| Bukka White | 1909 | 1977 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Josh White | 1908 | 1969 | South Carolina | Country blues |
| Big Joe Williams | 1903 | 1982 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Sonny Boy Williamson I | 1914 | 1948 | Tennessee | Urban blues |
| Ralph Willis | 1910* | 1957 | Alabama | Piedmont blues |
| Oscar "Buddy" Woods | 1903 | 1955 | Louisiana | Urban blues |
| An asterisk (*) denotes that other sources give different dates, origin, or style. ||||||

## 1940–1979 blues

List of 1940–1979 blues musicians, showing name, birth and death years, origin, primary style, and references :
| Name | Birth year | Death year | Origin | Primary style |
| The Aces | | | Illinois | Chicago blues |
| Woodrow Adams | 1917 | 1988 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Luther Allison | 1939 | 1997 | Arkansas | Chicago blues |
| Mose Allison | 1927 | 2016 | Mississippi | Urban blues |
| Kip Anderson | 1938 | 2007 | South Carolina | Soul blues |
| Etta Baker | 1913 | 2006 | North Carolina | Country blues |
| John Henry Barbee | 1905 | 1964 | Tennessee | Acoustic blues |
| Lou Ann Barton | 1954 | | Texas | Electric blues |
| Johnnie Bassett | 1935 | 2012 | Florida | Electric blues |
| Lefty Bates | 1920 | 2007 | Alabama | Chicago blues |
| Carey Bell | 1936 | 2007 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Buster Benton | 1932 | 1996 | Arkansas | Chicago blues |
| Roy Book Binder | 1943 | | New York | Acoustic blues |
| Elvin Bishop | 1942 | | California | Electric blues |
| Bobby Bland | 1930 | 2013 | Tennessee | Soul blues |
| Rory Block | 1949 | | New Jersey | Country blues |
| Mike Bloomfield | 1943 | 1981 | Illinois | Electric blues |
| Boogie Woogie Red | 1925 | 1985* | Louisiana | Boogie woogie |
| Eddie Boyd | 1914 | 1994 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Lonnie Brooks | 1933 | 2017 | Louisiana | Electric blues |
| Charles Brown | 1922 | 1999 | Texas | West Coast blues |
| Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown | 1924* | 2005 | Louisiana | Electric blues |
| Roy Brown | 1925* | 1981 | Louisiana | Jump blues |
| Walter Brown | 1917 | 1956 | Texas | Memphis blues |
| Roy Buchanan | 1939 | 1988 | Alabama | Electric blues |
| George "Mojo" Buford | 1929 | 2011 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Eddie "Guitar" Burns | 1928 | 2012 | Mississippi | Detroit blues |
| R. L. Burnside | 1926 | 2005 | Mississippi | Hill country blues |
| Aron Burton | 1938 | 2016 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Paul Butterfield | 1942 | 1987 | Illinois | Electric blues |
| Carolina Slim | 1923 | 1953 | North Carolina | Piedmont blues |
| Eric Clapton | 1945 | | England | Electric blues |
| Willie Cobbs | 1932 | 2021 | Arkansas | Electric blues |
| Albert Collins | 1932 | 1993 | Texas | Electric blues |
| Johnny Copeland | 1937 | 1997 | Louisiana | Texas blues |
| James Cotton | 1935 | 2017 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Pee Wee Crayton | 1914 | 1985 | Texas | West Coast blues |
| Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup | 1905 | 1974 | Mississippi | Urban blues |
| James Crutchfield | 1912 | 2001 | Louisiana | Barrelhouse blues |
| Cyril Davies | 1932 | 1964 | England | Electric blues |
| Blind John Davis | 1913 | 1985 | Mississippi | Urban blues |
| James "Thunderbird" Davis | 1938 | 1991* | Alabama | Electric blues |
| Larry Davis | 1936 | 1994 | Arkansas* | Texas blues |
| Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis | 1925 | 1995 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Jimmy Dawkins | 1936 | 2013 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Floyd Dixon | 1929 | 2006 | Texas | West Coast blues |
| Willie Dixon | 1915 | 1992 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Champion Jack Dupree | 1910* | 1992 | Louisiana | Louisiana blues |
| Big Joe Duskin | 1921 | 2007 | Alabama | Barrelhouse blues |
| Johnny Dyer | 1938 | 2014 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Snooks Eaglin | 1936 | 2009 | Louisiana | Electric blues |
| Archie Edwards | 1918 | 1998 | Virginia | Country blues |
| David "Honeyboy" Edwards | 1915 | 2011 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Robert "Big Mojo" Elem | 1931* | 1997 | Mississippi | Delta blues |
| Margie Evans | 1939 | 2021 | Louisiana | Electric blues |
| The Fabulous Thunderbirds | | | Texas | Texas blues |
| Turner Foddrell | 1928 | 1995 | Virginia | Acoustic blues |
| Forest City Joe | 1926 | 1960 | Arkansas | Electric blues |
| "Baby Face" Leroy Foster | 1923 | 1958 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Guitar Pete Franklin | 1928 | 1975 | Indiana | Electric blues |
| Calvin Frazier | 1915 | 1972 | Arkansas | Detroit blues |
| Denny Freeman | 1944 | 2021 | Florida | Texas blues |
| Johnny Fuller | 1929 | 1985 | Mississippi | West Coast blues |
| Lowell Fulson | 1921 | 1999 | Oklahoma | West Coast blues |
| Bob Gaddy | 1924 | 1997 | West Virginia | Urban blues |
| Rory Gallagher | 1948 | 1995 | Ireland | Electric blues |
| Clarence Garlow | 1911 | 1986 | Louisiana | Louisiana blues |
| Lee Gates | 1937 | 2020 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Lacy Gibson | 1936 | 2011 | North Carolina | Chicago blues |
| Good Rockin' Charles | 1933 | 1989 | Alabama | Chicago blues |
| Henry Gray | 1925 | 2020 | Louisiana | Chicago blues |
| L.C. Green | 1921 | 1985 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Peter Green | 1946 | 2020 | England | Electric blues |
| Guitar Nubbit | 1923 | 1995 | Florida | Electric blues |
| Guitar Slim | 1926 | 1959 | Louisiana | Louisiana blues |
| Buddy Guy | 1936 | | Louisiana | Chicago blues |
| Phil Guy | 1940 | 2008 | Louisiana | Electric blues |
| John P. Hammond | 1942 | | New York | Electric blues |
| James Harman | 1946 | 2021 | Alabama | Electric blues |
| Harmonica Slim | 1934 | 1984 | Texas | Texas blues |
| Wynonie Harris | 1915 | 1969 | Nebraska | Jump blues |
| Shakey Jake Harris | 1921 | 1990 | Arkansas | Chicago blues |
| Little Hatch | 1921 | 2003 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Johnny Heartsman | 1936 | 1996 | Texas | Electric blues |
| Duke Henderson | 1925 | 1973 | Missouri | West Coast blues |
| Z. Z. Hill | 1935 | 1984 | Texas | Soul blues |
| Silas Hogan | 1911 | 1994 | Louisiana | Louisiana blues |
| Smokey Hogg | 1914 | 1960 | Texas | Electric blues |
| John Dee Holeman | 1929 | 2021 | North Carolina | Piedmont blues |
| Earl Hooker | 1930 | 1970 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| John Lee Hooker | 1917* | 2001 | Mississippi | Detroit blues |
| Lightnin' Hopkins | 1912 | 1982 | Texas | Country blues |
| Big Walter Horton | 1917* | 1981 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Howlin' Wolf | 1910 | 1976 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Long John Hunter | 1931 | 2016 | Louisiana | Texas blues |
| J. B. Hutto | 1926 | 1983 | South Carolina | Chicago blues |
| John Jackson | 1924 | 2002 | Virginia | Piedmont blues |
| Elmore James | 1918 | 1963 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Etta James | 1938 | 2012 | California | Soul blues |
| Bobo Jenkins | 1916 | 1984 | Alabama | Detroit blues |
| Jimmy Johnson | 1928 | 2022 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Luther Johnson (Guitar Junior) | 1939 | 2022 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson | 1934 | 1976 | Georgia | Chicago blues |
| Floyd Jones | 1917 | 1990* | Arkansas | Electric blues |
| Little Sonny Jones | 1931 | 1989 | Louisiana | New Orleans blues |
| Moody Jones | 1908 | 1988 | Arkansas | Chicago blues |
| Tail Dragger Jones | 1940 | 2023 | Arkansas | Chicago blues |
| Louis Jordan | 1908 | 1975 | Arkansas | Jump blues |
| Kansas City Red | 1926 | 1991 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Jo Ann Kelly | 1944 | 1990 | England | Electric blues |
| Junior Kimbrough | 1930 | 1998 | Mississippi | Hill country blues |
| Albert King | 1923 | 1992 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| B.B. King | 1925 | 2015 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Earl King | 1934 | 2003 | Louisiana | New Orleans blues |
| Eddie King | 1938 | 2012 | Alabama | Chicago blues |
| Freddie King | 1934 | 1976 | Texas | Electric blues |
| Little Freddie King | 1940 | | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Bob Kirkpatrick | 1934 | | Louisiana | Texas blues |
| Alexis Korner | 1928 | 1984 | France | Electric blues |
| Sammy Lawhorn | 1935 | 1990 | Arkansas | Chicago blues |
| Lazy Lester | 1933 | 2018 | Louisiana | Swamp blues |
| Calvin Leavy | 1941* | 2010 | Arkansas | Soul blues |
| Lovie Lee | 1908 | 1997 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Lefty Dizz | 1937 | 1993 | Arkansas | Chicago blues |
| J. B. Lenoir | 1929 | 1967 | Mississippi | Urban blues |
| Lightnin' Slim | 1913 | 1974 | Missouri* | Louisiana blues |
| Hip Linkchain | 1936 | 1989 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Little Joe Blue | 1934 | 1990 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Little Sonny | 1932* | | Alabama | Electric blues |
| Little Walter | 1930 | 1968 | Louisiana | Chicago blues |
| Little Willie Littlefield | 1931 | 2013 | Texas | West Coast blues |
| John Littlejohn | 1931 | 1994 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Lonesome Sundown | 1928 | 2005* | Louisiana | Swamp blues |
| Louisiana Red | 1932 | 2012 | Alabama | Electric blues |
| Willie Love | 1906 | 1953 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Magic Sam | 1937 | 1969 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Magic Slim | 1937 | 2013 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| J.J. Malone | 1935 | 2004 | Alabama | West Coast blues |
| Johnny Mars | 1942 | 2011 | South Carolina | Electric blues |
| John Mayall | 1933 | 2024 | England | Electric blues |
| Pete Mayes | 1938 | 2008 | Texas | Texas blues |
| Percy Mayfield | 1920 | 1984 | Louisiana | West Coast blues |
| Earring George Mayweather | 1928 | 1995 | Alabama | Chicago blues |
| Delbert McClinton | 1940 | | Texas | Electric blues |
| Jimmy McCracklin | 1921 | 2012 | Texas | West Coast blues |
| Brownie McGhee | 1915 | 1996 | Tennessee | Piedmont blues |
| Memphis Slim | 1915 | 1988 | Tennessee | Urban blues |
| Big Maceo Merriweather | 1905 | 1953 | Georgia | Barrelhouse blues |
| Amos Milburn | 1927 | 1980 | Texas | Urban blues |
| Luke "Long Gone" Miles | 1925 | 1987 | Louisiana | Texas blues |
| Roy Milton | 1907 | 1983 | Oklahoma | Jump blues |
| Gatemouth Moore | 1913 | 2004 | Kansas | Urban blues |
| Johnny B. Moore | 1950 | | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Muddy Waters | 1913 | 1983 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Matt "Guitar" Murphy | 1929 | 2018 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Charlie Musselwhite | 1944 | | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Sam Myers | 1936 | 2006 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Robert Nighthawk | 1909 | 1967 | Arkansas | Chicago blues |
| Andrew Odom | 1936 | 1991 | Louisiana | Chicago blues |
| Johnny Otis | 1921 | 2012 | California | West Coast blues |
| Junior Parker | 1932 | 1971 | Mississippi | Memphis blues |
| Odie Payne | 1926 | 1989 | Illinois | Chicago blues |
| Dave Peabody | 1948 | | England | Acoustic blues |
| Pinetop Perkins | 1913 | 2011 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Rod Piazza | 1947 | | California | Electric blues |
| Dan Pickett | 1907 | 1967 | Alabama | Country blues |
| Snooky Pryor | 1919* | 2006 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Doug Quattlebaum | 1927 | 1996 | South Carolina | Piedmont blues |
| Bonnie Raitt | 1949 | | California | Electric blues |
| Jimmy Reed | 1925 | 1976 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Sonny Rhodes | 1940 | 2021 | Texas | Electric blues |
| Fenton Robinson | 1935 | 2007* | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Jimmie Lee Robinson | 1931 | 2002 | Illinois | Chicago blues |
| Sonny Rodgers | 1939 | 1990 | Arkansas | Electric blues |
| Jimmy Rogers | 1924 | 1997 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Roomful of Blues | | | Rhode Island | Electric blues |
| Bobby Rush | 1933 | | Louisiana | Soul blues |
| Otis Rush | 1924 | 1997 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Son Seals | 1942 | 2004 | Arkansas | Electric blues |
| Eddie Shaw | 1937 | 2018 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Roscoe Shelton | 1931 | 2002 | Tennessee | Electric blues |
| Johnny Shines | 1915 | 1992 | Tennessee | Chicago blues |
| Frankie Lee Sims | 1917 | 1970 | Louisiana | Texas blues |
| Drink Small | 1933 | | South Carolina | Acoustic blues |
| Barkin' Bill Smith | 1928 | 2000 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| George "Harmonica" Smith | 1924 | 1983 | Arkansas | Electric blues |
| Moses "Whispering" Smith | 1932 | 1984 | Mississippi | Louisiana blues |
| Robert Curtis Smith | 1930 | 2010 | Mississippi | Piedmont blues |
| Smoky Babe | 1927 | 1975* | Mississippi | Acoustic blues |
| Little Smokey Smothers | 1939 | 2010 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers | 1929 | 1993 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Otis Spann | 1930 | 1970 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Arthur "Big Boy" Spires | 1912 | 1990 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Arbee Stidham | 1917 | 1988 | Arkansas | Electric blues |
| Taj Mahal | 1942 | | New York | Acoustic blues |
| Baby Tate | 1916 | 1972 | Georgia | Piedmont blues |
| Eddie Taylor | 1923 | 1985 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Hound Dog Taylor | 1917* | 1975 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Koko Taylor | 1935* | 2009 | Tennessee | Electric blues |
| Sam Taylor | 1916 | 1990 | Tennessee | Urban blues |
| Sonny Terry | 1911 | 1986 | Georgia | Country blues |
| Tabby Thomas | 1929 | 2014 | Louisiana | Louisiana blues |
| Big Mama Thornton | 1926 | 1984 | Alabama | Electric blues |
| Luther Tucker | 1936 | 1993 | Tennessee | Chicago blues |
| Big Joe Turner | 1911 | 1985 | Missouri | Jump blues |
| Ike Turner | 1931 | 2007 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Titus Turner | 1933 | 1984 | Georgia | Soul blues |
| Jimmie Vaughan | 1951 | | Texas | Electric blues |
| Stevie Ray Vaughan | 1954 | 1990 | Texas | Electric blues |
| Mose Vinson | 1917* | 2002 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Johnny "Big Moose" Walker | 1927 | 1999 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| T-Bone Walker | 1910 | 1975 | Texas | West Coast blues |
| Baby Boy Warren | 1919 | 1977 | Louisiana | Detroit blues |
| Willie D. Warren | 1924 | 2000 | Arkansas | Detroit blues |
| Washboard Willie | 1909 | 1991 | Alabama | Detroit blues |
| Boogie Bill Webb | 1924 | 1990 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Junior Wells | 1934 | 1998 | Arkansas | Chicago blues |
| Golden "Big" Wheeler | 1929 | 1998 | Georgia | Chicago blues |
| Lavelle White | 1929 | | Louisiana | Soul blues |
| Joe Willie Wilkins | 1921 | 1979 | Mississippi | Memphis blues |
| Jody Williams | 1935 | 2018 | Alabama | Chicago blues |
| Johnny Williams | 1906 | 2006 | Louisiana | Chicago blues |
| Lester Williams | 1920 | 1990 | Texas | Texas blues |
| Sonny Boy Williamson II | 1909* | 1965 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Alan Wilson | 1943 | 1970 | Massachusetts | Electric blues |
| U.P. Wilson | 1934 | 2004 | Louisiana | Texas blues |
| Johnny Winter | 1944 | 2014 | Texas | Electric blues |
| Jimmy Witherspoon | 1920 | 1997 | Arkansas | Jump blues |
| Big John Wrencher | 1924* | 1977 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| Billy Wright | 1918* | 1991 | Georgia | Jump blues |
| Johnny "Man" Young | 1918 | 1974 | Mississippi | Chicago blues |
| An asterisk (*) denotes that other sources give different dates, origin, or style. ||||||

## Blues since 1980

List of blues musicians since 1980, showing name, birth and death years, origin, primary style, and references :
| Name | Birth year | Death year | Origin | Primary style |
| Linsey Alexander | 1942 | 2025 | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| James Armstrong | 1957 | | California | Electric blues |
| Dexter Allen | 1970 | | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Marcia Ball | 1949 | | Texas | Electric blues |
| Chico Banks | 1962 | 2008 | Illinois | Chicago blues |
| L.V. Banks | 1932 | 2011 | Missouri | Chicago blues |
| Barrelhouse Chuck | 1958 | 2016 | Ohio | Chicago blues |
| Tab Benoit | 1967 | | California | Electric blues |
| Terry "Harmonica" Bean | 1961 | | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Chris Beard | 1957 | | New York | Electric blues* |
| Adolphus Bell | 1944 | | Alabama | Electric blues* |
| Lurrie Bell | 1958 | | Illinois | Electric blues |
| Eric Bibb | 1951 | | New York | Acoustic blues* |
| Blind Mississippi Morris | 1955 | | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Skeeter Brandon | 1948 | | Virginia | Electric blues* |
| Ronnie Baker Brooks | 1967 | | Illinois | Electric blues* |
| Jimmy Burns | 1943 | | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Cedric Burnside | 1978 | | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Charles Caldwell | 1943 | 2003 | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Karen Carroll | 1958 | | Illinois | Electric blues |
| William Clarke | 1951 | 1996 | California | Electric blues |
| Deborah Coleman | 1956 | 2018 | Virginia | Electric blues |
| Shemekia Copeland | 1979 | | New York | Electric blues* |
| Robert Cray | 1953 | | Georgia | Electric blues |
| Debbie Davies | 1952 | | California | Electric blues |
| Boo Boo Davis | 1943 | | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Guy Davis | 1952 | | New York | Electric blues |
| Thornetta Davis | 1963 | | Michigan | Electric blues* |
| Little Arthur Duncan | 1934 | 2008 | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Ronnie Earl | 1953 | | New York | Electric blues |
| Tinsley Ellis | 1957 | | Georgia | Electric blues |
| Kirk Fletcher | 1975 | | California | Electric blues* |
| Sue Foley | 1968 | | Canada | Electric blues |
| Robben Ford | 1951 | | California | Electric blues |
| Rick Franklin | 1941 | 2005 | Virginia | Electric blues* |
| Anson Funderburgh | 1954 | | Texas | Electric blues |
| Grady Gaines | 1934 | 2021 | Texas | Electric blues |
| Terry Garland | 1953 | | Tennessee | Country blues |
| Larry Garner | 1952 | | Louisiana | Electric blues* |
| Otis Grand | 1950 | | U.S. | Electric blues |
| Guitar Slim Jr. | 1951 | | Louisiana | Electric blues |
| Sandra Hall | 1951 | | Georgia | Electric blues* |
| Larry Hamilton | 1951 | 2011 | Texas | Electric blues |
| Odessa Harris | 1936 | 2003 | Arkansas | Electric blues* |
| Alvin Youngblood Hart | 1963 | | California | Acoustic blues* |
| Ted Hawkins | 1936 | 1995 | Mississippi | Acoustic blues |
| Big Boy Henry | 1921 | 2004 | North Carolina | Electric blues* |
| George Higgs | 1930 | 2013 | North Carolina | Electric blues* |
| Fruteland Jackson | 1953 | | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Colin James | 1964 | | Canada | Electric blues |
| Steve James | 1950 | | New York | Acoustic blues |
| L.V. Johnson | 1946 | | U.S. | Electric blues |
| Johnny "Yard Dog" Jones | 1941 | | Illinois | Electric blues* |
| Paul "Wine" Jones | 1946 | 2005 | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Tutu Jones | 1957 | | Texas | Electric blues* |
| Keb' Mo' | 1955 | | California | Acoustic blues |
| Harrison Kennedy | 1942 | | Canada | Electric blues* |
| Chris Thomas King | 1962 | | Louisiana | Electric blues* |
| Little Jimmy King | 1968 | 2002 | Tennessee | Electric blues |
| Lady Bianca | 1953 | | Kansas | Electric blues |
| Johnny Laws | 1943 | 2021 | Illinois | Electric blues* |
| Professor Eddie Lusk | 1948 | 1992 | Illinois | Electric blues* |
| Bob Margolin | 1949 | | Massachusetts | Electric blues |
| Johnnie Marshall | 1961 | | Georgia | Electric blues* |
| Larry McCray | 1962 | | Arkansas | Electric blues |
| Clara McDaniel | 1948 | | Michigan | Electric blues* |
| Johnny B. Moore | 1952 | | U.S. | Chicago blues |
| Kenny Neal | 1957 | | Louisiana | Electric blues |
| Jay Owens | 1947 | | Florida | Electric blues |
| Sista Monica Parker | 1956 | | Indiana | Electric blues* |
| Neal Pattman | 1927 | 2005 | Georgia | Electric blues* |
| Asie Payton | 1937 | 1997 | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Lucky Peterson | 1964 | | New York | Electric blues |
| Kelly Joe Phelps | 1960 | | Washington | Electric blues* |
| Lonnie Pitchford | 1955 | | Kentucky | Electric blues* |
| Gene "Birdlegg" Pittman | 1947 | | Pennsylvania | Electric blues* |
| Gary Primich | 1958 | | Illinois | Electric blues |
| Henry Qualls | 1934 | | Texas | Acoustic blues* |
| Johnny Rawls | 1951 | | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Sherman Robertson | 1948 | | Louisiana | Electric blues |
| Duke Robillard | 1948 | | Rhode Island | Electric blues |
| Andy Rodgers | 1922 | 2004 | Mississippi | Acoustic blues* |
| Mighty Mo Rodgers | 1942 | | Illinois | Electric blues* |
| Roy Rogers | 1950 | | California | Electric blues* |
| Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women | | | | Acoustic blues |
| Isaac Scott | 1945 | 2001 | Washington | Electric blues* |
| Kenny Wayne Shepherd | 1977 | | Louisiana | Electric blues |
| Lonnie Shields | 1956 | | Arkansas | Electric blues* |
| Cootie Stark | 1926 | 2005 | South Carolina | Acoustic blues |
| Angela Strehli | 1945 | | Texas | Electric blues |
| Demetria Taylor | 1973 | | Illinois | Chicago blues |
| Eddie Taylor Jr. | 1972 | | Illinois | Electric blues* |
| Melvin Taylor | 1959 | | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Otis Taylor | 1948 | | Illinois | Electric blues* |
| Susan Tedeschi | 1970 | | Massachusetts | Electric blues |
| Lil' Dave Thompson | 1969 | 2010 | Mississippi | Electric blues* |
| Pyeng Threadgill | 1977 | | New York | Electric blues* |
| Teeny Tucker | 1958 | | Ohio | Electric blues* |
| Maurice John Vaughn | 1952 | | Illinois | Chicago blues |
| Joe Louis Walker | 1949 | | California | Electric blues |
| Carl Weathersby | 1953 | 2024 | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| Valerie Wellington | 1959 | 1991 | Illinois | Electric blues |
| Mike Wheeler | 1961 | | Illinois | Electric blues* |
| Albert White | 1942 | | Georgia | Electric blues* |
| Lil' Ed Williams | 1955 | | U.S. | Chicago blues |
| Zora Young | 1948 | | Mississippi | Electric blues |
| An asterisk (*) denotes that other sources give different dates, origin, or style. ||||||