Chicago blues artists

35 published Chicago blues artists, led by Willie Dixon, Freddie King and Otis Rush.

At a glance

35 published Chicago blues artists; 106 studio albums have verified cover art.

Published artists0 tier 1 · 35 tier 2 · 0 tier 3: 35
Release groups: 279
Studio albums: 132
Albums with cover artverified Cover Art Archive: 106
Timeline events: 220
Average career spanfirst to last dated release: 31.1 years
Full biographies: 8
Biography words: 20,903

When they started

Debut decade from each artist's earliest dated release. Most debuts fell in the 1990s (12 artists).

Artists by debut decade
Decade	Artists
1920s	1
1940s	1
1950s	3
1960s	4
1970s	2
1980s	2
1990s	12
2000s	1
2010s	1
2020s	1

7 artists have no dated release or formation year and are not plotted.

Where they come from

Countries with the most Chicago blues artists. United States leads with 35.

United States 35

Often paired with

Genres that share artists with Chicago blues. The most shared is blues, with 8 artists in both.

Covers from Chicago blues

106 studio albums have verified cover art. The 12 shown come from the most famous artists.

Essential Classics, Vol. 448: Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon · 2024
Chicago All Stars
Willie Dixon · 1998
Ginger Ale Afternoon
Willie Dixon · 1989
Hidden Charms
Willie Dixon · 1988
Mighty Earthquake and Hurricane
Willie Dixon · 1984
Blues Anytime!
Willie Dixon · 1980
What Happened to My Blues
Willie Dixon · 1976
Catalyst
Willie Dixon · 1973
I Think I Got the Blues
Willie Dixon · 1973
Peace?
Willie Dixon · 1971
I Am the Blues
Willie Dixon · 1970
Songs of Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon · 1960

Leaders

Freddie King has the most release groups (76); Scrapper Blackwell the longest career (93 years); Willie Dixon the most awards (2).

Most prolific

Most prolific, by number of release groups
Artist	release groups
Freddie King	76
Otis Rush	44
Willie Dixon	39
Koko Taylor	23
Scrapper Blackwell	14

Longest careers

first to last dated release

Longest careers, by number of years
Artist	years
Scrapper Blackwell	93
Freddie King	70
Otis Rush	69
Willie Dixon	68
Koko Taylor	61

Most decorated

Most decorated, by number of awards
Artist	awards
Willie Dixon	2
Freddie King	2
Otis Rush	2

Most famous Chicago blues artists

Willie Dixon

United States · Person · born 1915

rhythm and blues, blues, Chicago blues

34 wikis

Freddie King

United States · Person · born 1934

blues rock, funk, blues, Chicago blues

33 wikis

Otis Rush

United States · Person · born 1935

rhythm and blues, blues, electric blues, Chicago blues

28 wikis

Koko Taylor

United States · Person · born 1928

soul, rhythm and blues, blues, Chicago blues, soul blues

28 wikis

Sam Lay

United States · Person · born 1935

rock music, jazz, Chicago blues

12 wikis

Scrapper Blackwell

United States · Person · born 1903

Chicago blues

14 wikis

Lurrie Bell

United States · Person · born 1958

rock and roll, blues, Chicago blues

12 wikis

Jazz Gillum

United States · Person · born 1904

blues, Chicago blues

7 wikis

Shakey Jake Harris

United States · Person · born 1921

Chicago blues

7 wikis

Odie Payne

United States · Person · born 1926

blues, Chicago blues

7 wikis

Luther Tucker

United States · Person · born 1936

Chicago blues

7 wikis

Linsey Alexander

United States · Person · born 1942

Chicago blues

7 wikis

More Chicago blues artists

Showing 1–23 of 23 artists

Ronnie Baker Brooks

United States · Person · born 1967

Chicago blues

7 wikis · Tier 2

Buster Benton

United States · Person · born 1932

Chicago blues

6 wikis · Tier 2

Sammy Lawhorn

United States · Person · born 1935

Chicago blues

6 wikis · Tier 2

Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers

United States · Person · born 1929

Chicago blues

6 wikis · Tier 2

Lil' Ed Williams

United States · Person · born 1955

Chicago blues

6 wikis · Tier 2

Aron Burton

United States · Person · born 1938

rock music, Chicago blues

5 wikis · Tier 2

Eddie King

United States · Person · born 1938

Chicago blues

5 wikis · Tier 2

Hip Linkchain

United States · Person · born 1936

Chicago blues

5 wikis · Tier 2

Johnny Walker

United States · Person · born 1927

Chicago blues

5 wikis · Tier 2

Chico Banks

United States · Person · born 1962

Chicago blues

5 wikis · Tier 2

Moody Jones

United States · Person · born 1908

Chicago blues

4 wikis · Tier 2

Lefty Dizz

United States · Person · born 1937

blues, Chicago blues

4 wikis · Tier 2

Little Smokey Smothers

United States · Person · born 1939

Chicago blues

4 wikis · Tier 2

Barrelhouse Chuck

United States · Person · born 1958

Chicago blues

4 wikis · Tier 2

Little Arthur Duncan

United States · Person · born 1934

Chicago blues

4 wikis · Tier 2

Mike Wheeler

United States · Person · born 1961

Chicago blues

4 wikis · Tier 2

The Aces

United States · Group

Chicago blues

3 wikis · Tier 2

Good Rockin' Charles

United States · Person · born 1933

Chicago blues

3 wikis · Tier 2

L.V. Banks

United States · Person · born 1932

Chicago blues

3 wikis · Tier 2

Johnny Laws

United States · Person · born 1943

Chicago blues

3 wikis · Tier 2

Eddie Lusk

United States · Person · born 1948

rock music, Chicago blues

3 wikis · Tier 2

Andrew Odom

United States · Person · born 1936

Chicago blues

2 wikis · Tier 2

Golden "Big" Wheeler

United States · Person · born 1929

Chicago blues

2 wikis · Tier 2

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