John Mayall, known as the godfather of British blues, has died. He was 90 years old.
“It is with heavy hearts that we receive the news that John Mayall passed away peacefully yesterday, July 22, 2024, at his California home surrounded by his loving family,” his family said on his official website on Tuesday. “Health issues that forced John to end his epic touring career have finally brought peace to one of the world’s greatest road warriors.”
The statement continued: “John Mayall has tirelessly helped us educate, inspire and entertain for ninety years.”
Mayall’s family has not commented further on his health problems. USA TODAY has reached out to the musician’s representatives.
From Cher to Ozzy Osbourne, See the list of 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees
The Grammy-nominated artist was a key pioneer of blues music in England. In the 1960s, he founded the band John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, which had over 70 members at its inception, including Carolyn Wonderland, John McVie, Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood, Harvey Mandell and others.
“We, the Mayall family, cannot thank his fans and long list of band members enough for the second-hand support and love we have received over the past six decades,” his family said in a statement on Tuesday.
In April, it was announced that Mayall would be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024, along with other deceased blues heroes such as Alexis Korner and Big Mama Thornton, for the award for their musical influence.
In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, the singer and musician spoke about his love of the blues, noting that the genre is about “a gentle honesty with which it expresses our life experiences, something that all comes together in this music, even in the words. Something that is connected to us, that is common to our experiences.”
He later spoke about his love of touring in a 2019 interview with Rock & Blues Muse. “The interaction with the audience is really the most exciting part about it, as is the music we make on stage. The fact that we share it with people and get the reaction and the feel of how it all works – that’s always been the beauty of performing live,” he said.
Mayall leaves behind six children – Gaz, Jason, Red, Ben, Zak and Samson – as well as seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Mayall dead: The godfather of British blues was 90
