Living Blues Greats

Let’s take a look back! It was in the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s when old-school blues musicians enlivened the blues scenes in Chicago, Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and the South of the USA. Many also went on tour and made unforgettable recordings.

In the meantime, most of the musicians of these post-war generations have passed away. Martin Feldmann has discovered rare pictures from the 1980s in his archives. Displayed on this, his seventh wall calendar, are legendary or less well-known blues artists who are still alive today (as of late summer 2018). Most of them are still active, playing and singing the blues. Probably the most famous example is the Chicago blues singer/guitarist Buddy Guy (*1936 in Lettsworth, LA) who is pictured above. Buddy is one of the last active Chicago Blues musicians of the golden age. He became known during his long cooperation with the harmonica player Junior Wells (1934–1998). In 2018, Buddy released the album The Blues Is Alive And Well – with guests like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as well as Jeff Beck. Martin Feldmann photographed Buddy in 1981 at the Club Sinkkasten, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Martin travelled several times throughout the USA, visiting most of the blues and jazz centers in that country. At home, Martin frequently goes to festivals and concerts in Europe and contributes articles and photos to jazz and blues magazines. He lives in Frankfurt/Main, Germany.