Tier 2 · legacy legend
Bob Margolin
Person · male · United States · Brookline · born 1949 · recording since 1989
American electric blues guitarist
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Also known as Robert Margolin · Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin · 巴布·馬戈林
Timeline
17 events▣ Album 15◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1
1940s
1980s
· Debut release
Debut release: The Old School
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography510 words · 3 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1342024893
Biography
Bob Margolin (born May 9, 1949) is an American electric blues guitarist. His nickname is Steady Rollin'. In 2026 Margolin was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Biography
Margolin started playing guitar in 1964, and his first appearance on record was with Boston psychedelic band The Freeborne, and their 1967 album Peak Impressions. While born in Massachusetts, he has long lived in High Point, North Carolina with his wife Pamela.
Margolin was a backing musician for Muddy Waters from 1973 to 1980, performing with Waters and The Band in The Last Waltz. As a solo recording artist, he has recorded albums for Alligator Records, Blind Pig, Telarc and his own Steady Rollin' record label.
In 1977 he appeared on Johnny Winter's album Nothin' But The Blues along with Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, and others.
In 1978, he made a guest appearance on Big Joe Duskin's debut album, Cincinnati Stomp, on Arhoolie Records.
In 1979, he made a guest appearance, along with Pinetop Perkins, on The Nighthawks album, Jacks & Kings.
In 1994, he appeared with Jerry Portnoy as guest musicians on the album, Ice Cream Man by John Brim. It received a Blues Music Award (formerly W. C. Handy Award) nomination as the best 'Traditional Blues Album of the Year'.
Margolin is a columnist for the Blues Revue magazine.
In 2013, Margolin was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Traditional Blues Male Artist' category. His joint album with Ann Rabson, Not Alone
Not AloneSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1I'm Going to Live The Life I Sing About In My Song3:502Let's Get Drunk and Truck1:593How Long Blues3:054It Ain't Love3:005Guess I'm A Fool3:406Caledonia3:387Let's Go Get Stoned2:578Let It Go3:469Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby4:0410Anywhere You Go3:2711No Time For the Blues3:1712River's Invitation4:40 was also nominated in the 'Acoustic Album' category.
In 2020, Margolin was presented with a Blues Music Award for 'Acoustic Album of the Year' for This Guitar and Tonight
This Guitar And TonightSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1This Guitar and Tonight5:242Evil Walks in Our World4:453Over Time3:574Dancer's Boogie3:165Blues Lover4:026Good Driving Song3:007I Can't Take Those Blues Away6:058Together3:029Predator8:07.
Bob Margolin is the Musical Director for The Pinetop Perkins Workshop Experience - an annual blues music educational workshop held in Clarksdale, Mississippi, organized by The Pinetop Perkins Foundation. Professional blues musicians from all over the world teach youths the blues music tradition and instrumentation: guitar, drums, bass, harmonica, piano, and voice. The Pinetop Perkins Foundation, a non-profit organization provides financial assistance to elder blues musicians in the twilight of their careers.
Margolin regularly appears as a featured guest artist at Last Waltz tribute shows. He occasionally makes appearances and records with his sister Sherry, a pianist.
In 2026 Margolin was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Albums
The Old School (1989)
Chicago Blues (1991)
Down in the Alley (1993)
My Blues & My Guitar (1995)
Up & In (1997)
Hold Me To It (1999)
All-Star Blues Jam (2003) with Carey Bell, Mookie Brill, Jimmy D. Lane, Pinetop Perkins, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Hubert Sumlin
In North Carolina (2007)
My Road (2016)
Bob Margolin (2018)
This Guitar and Tonight (2019)
Star of Stage and Screens (2020)
So Far (2022) Bob Margolin & Bob Corritore feat. Jimmy Vivino
With Muddy Waters
"Unk" in Funk (Chess, 1974)
The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album (Chess, 1975)
Hard Again (Blue Sky, 1977)
I'm Ready (Blue Sky, 1978)
Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live (Blue Sky, 1979)
King Bee (Blue Sky, 1981)
With Johnny Winter
Nothin' but the Blues (Blue Sky, 1977)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 9 | 54.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 15 | 94.6th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 17 | 92.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 33 | 71.4th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (16 release groups · 15 studio albums)
Albums · 15
1989 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks · 39:17
1Just Keep Lovin' Her2:472The Old School2:433Later for You2:184River's Invitation3:355Lonesome Blues3:206The Window2:007Kindhearted Woman2:538At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama)2:339Memory Pain4:4610Young Fashioned Ways3:0511Ooh Wee3:1512My Life Is Ruined2:3313Mean Woman Blues3:291991 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 5:25
1She's So Pretty2:572She and the Devil2:283Steady Rollin' Man4Sugar Speed5Something Inside of Me6Dust My Broom7Wee Wee Baby8Rollin' and Trumblin'9Mean Disposition10Tribute to Howlin' Wolf11Not What You Said Last Night12Welcome Home13Telephone Answering Machine Blues14Born in the Wrong Time15She and the Devil1993 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 59:10
1Boogie at Midnight4:512Brown Liquor3:503Tough Times2:574While You're Down There3:265Down in the Alley4:156Boston Driving Blues5:407Lonesome Bedroom Blues4:528Baby Can't Be Found2:319Big Tree Blues3:2410Twelve Year Old Boy4:0411Dream of Nothing3:2812Look What You Done2:4813Wee Wee Hours4:1714Now Who's the Fool3:3015Worried Life Blues5:171995 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 59:48
1Movin' South3:572Maybe The Hippies Were Right2:553The Same Thing5:224Rip It Up2:375Blues Lover4:536Drip Drop3:157Falling Star3:418The Door Was Open3:599Just A Bad Dream4:1310See Me In The Evening4:3711Going Home4:2612I Can Get Behind That2:2813Last Time6:0314Peace Of Mind4:3515My Old Friend2:471997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 52:26
1The Window2:572Allen's Blues2:283Imagination5:494She and the Devil5:075Blues for Bartenders4:526Why Are People Like That?2:477Goin' Back Out on the Road3:158Up & In2:589Coffee Break5:0910'Bout Out2:3511Not What You Said Last Night2:4912Long Ago and Far Away3:2613Just Because3:5414Later for You4:201999 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 43:58
1All You Left Behind3:152Hold Me to It3:243Mean Old Chicago4:004Slam 'em Down2:175No Consolation3:056Consolation3:317Ice or Fire3:498Lost Again3:269Hard Feelings3:4310Not Dark Yet5:0911Stick Out Your Can3:3812Wee Baby Blues4:412003 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:06:18
1Brutal-Hearted Woman3:582Sweet (Little) Black Angel7:173One Day You're Gonna Get Lucky2:424I'll Take Care Of You3:575Juke3:086Mean Old Chicago6:237Always On My Mind3:448Easy To Love You5:219Last Time4:4210Maybe The Hippies Were Right2:1111Country Boy4:2512Crazy 'Bout You Baby4:2513My New Baby Owns A Whiskey Store3:3614Goin' Down Slow7:5815Just A Closer Walk With Thee2:312007 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 57:12
1Tell Me Why3:042In North Carloina4:233You Rascal You2:064Just Before Dawn3:445Colleen4:296Lonely Man Blues2:307Tears Of Rage7:268Natural Blues2:289Bring Me Your Blues3:0410Red Hot Kisses3:2111Hard Feelings2:3912Floyd's Guitar Blues2:0613She And The Devil3:2114Baby, Baby, Baby3:1815You Never Know9:132012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 45:18
1Lost Again2:462Blues Lover4:073Down in the Alley6:004Rather Than Be Free4:165While You're Down There3:496Ice or Fire3:387Crazy 'Bout You Baby4:148Rollin' and Tumblin'2:529It's Hard to Be on the Road3:1210Hard Feelings4:0511The Door Was Open3:1212Love in Vain3:072012 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 41:23
1I'm Going to Live The Life I Sing About In My Song3:502Let's Get Drunk and Truck1:593How Long Blues3:054It Ain't Love3:005Guess I'm A Fool3:406Caledonia3:387Let's Go Get Stoned2:578Let It Go3:469Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby4:0410Anywhere You Go3:2711No Time For the Blues3:1712River's Invitation4:40Down Home Percolators and Friends
2015 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 17 tracks · 1:05:16
1Ride On, Red, Ride On3:322Sugar Mama3:563Truckin’ My Blues Away3:364Phonograph Blues6:085Mellow Apples4:216I Done Woke Up2:517Sitting on Top of the World4:118You’re Humbuggin’ Me3:179Please Don’t Think I’m Nosey2:4810Cold Hearted Woman2:1811If It Ain’t Me2:3012Strange Things Happening4:4013Eyesight to the Blind3:3514I Don’t Dig It3:1315Think3:1016As the Years Go Passing By5:2017If It Ain’t Me / Who5:502016 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 44:41
1My Whole Life2:392More And More3:213I Shall Prevail4:024Goodnight2:515Understanding Heart4:046Low Life Blues4:207Bye Bye Baby2:588Young And Old Blues3:489Ask Me No Questions3:2510Feelin' Right Tonight3:5711Devil's Daughter3:5812Heaven Mississippi5:182018 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 55:57
1One More Day2:532I Shall Be Released3:433Detroit2:434Mercy4:075Best I Can Do6:276Blues Before Sunrise4:197Dallas3:238How Long4:089Peace of Mind4:1210She's So Pretty2:1611Look What You've Done2:3712Head Held High4:0313Going Away Baby3:4214My Road Song3:3715One More Mile3:472019 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 9 tracks · 41:38
1This Guitar and Tonight5:242Evil Walks in Our World4:453Over Time3:574Dancer's Boogie3:165Blues Lover4:026Good Driving Song3:007I Can't Take Those Blues Away6:058Together3:029Predator8:072022 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks · 44:59
1Steady Rollin' On2:512Running Through High Water4:323It Makes No Difference5:264Outrage and Inrage3:005Now and Then2:286Broken Heart3:477Salt River Stomp2:258One Hundred Hearts Later3:289Red Hot Kisses3:1510What If?3:2411Blessings and Blues2:3512I Wanna Go Home4:4213My Little Machine3:06
Single · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Steady Rollin' OnSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 2:461Steady Rollin' On2:46 | 27 October 2021 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Bob Margolin head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 9 | 54.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 15 | 94.6th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 17 | 92.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 33 | 71.4th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Awards & honours
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Freeborne(band) | — | present | |
| Bob Margolin Band(band) | — | present | original |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BobMargolin1996.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/90e17526-597c-4d91-b47f-40a85be1860adiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/90e17526-597c-4d91-b47f-40a85be1860acore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888095genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q888095seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Margolinbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Margolin
Why this artist is in the database
- List of blues musicians — rank #64
| 1949 | | Massachusetts | Electric blues |
Tier rule: genre canon: blues
Image: Carl Lender at https://www.flickr.com/photos/clender/ · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q888095 · MusicBrainz: 90e17526-597c-4d91-b47f-40a85be1860a
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