Does the UK have some home-grown blues artists, or are they mainly American?
by 
Alonzo Garbonzo
ANSWERS: 2
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Yes and no, depending on what Alonzo meant by "home-grown." John Mayall is often called "the Father of British Blues." A lot of the "British Invasion" bands of the 60's started as blues bands. The Rolling Stones got their name from a Muddy Waters song and started out as a blues band. Eric Clapton is another well-known British blues player. The UK has produced several exceptionally talented Blues artists and many famous Brit musicians are fans of and were influenced by Blues. In that regard the answer is yes. But if by "home-grown" he meant artists responsible for the Blues like Blind Lemmon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King then the answer is no. Blues originated among African Americans in the later half of the 19th Century. Blues as a genre was quite mature by the time it gained popularity in England around the time of the Skiffle and Folk music era of the late 1950's. That said, who cares? There are some great UK Blues Artists. Some are world famous and some are known only to fans in the UK. There is no doubt that Brits get the Blues too! JMAC http://www.TexasBluesRadio.com
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Lonnie Donegan, the well respected skiffle artiste was singing Leadbelly (Huddie Leadbetter) songs in the early 50's, and Cyril Davies and Alexis Korner had much to do with early british blues.
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