LOS ANGELES — John Mayall, the iconic British blues musician who shaped the careers of rock legends such as Eric Clapton and Mick Fleetwood, has passed away at his California residence, his family has confirmed.
Mayall, who relocated to the Los Angeles area from England in the 1960s, died peacefully at home on Monday, according to his official Facebook page.
He was 90 years old and is survived by six children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
The Facebook page noted, “Health issues that forced John to retire from his legendary touring career have finally brought peace to one of the world’s greatest road warriors. John Mayall devoted ninety years to educating, inspiring, and entertaining.”
Known as the godfather of British blues, Mayall made a mark not only with his own music but also through the success of the musicians who played with his Bluesbreakers. While Eric Clapton is perhaps the most famous, others like Peter Green, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood formed Fleetwood Mac, Jack Bruce joined Clapton in Cream, and Mick Taylor became part of the Rolling Stones in the 1970s.
Mayall settled in the Laurel Canyon area of Los Angeles in 1969, a hub for influential musicians at the time.
Earlier this year, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Despite his age, Mayall continued to perform into his 80s, with his final show taking place at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano in 2022, as reported by Variety.