John Hammond, a Grammy-winning blues singer and guitarist known for honoring Delta blues over six decades, has died at age 83. His death from cardiac arrest was confirmed by longtime collaborator Paul James. Hammond's career included over 30 albums and induction into the Blues Hall of Fame.
John Hammond, also known as John P. Hammond or John Hammond Jr., passed away on Saturday, February 28, at the age of 83. His death was attributed to cardiac arrest, according to Billboard Canada. Musician Paul James, a longtime collaborator, confirmed the news after being notified by Hammond's wife, Marla.
James shared a heartfelt tribute: “The blues world has lost a giant. I’ve lost my best friend,” he said. “I’ve just been going through the photos we’ve shared over the years — from the Horseshoe Tavern to Albert’s Hall in Toronto, from London to Montreal, to Edmonton to Ottawa — and each picture tells a story of great music, great people, and unforgettable nights. He was such an inspiration to me, I’ll miss him terribly.”
Born as the son of pioneering producer and talent scout John Henry Hammond Jr., the younger Hammond began playing guitar in high school. He dropped out of Antioch College in Ohio after one year to pursue music professionally. In 1963, he signed with Vanguard Records, releasing a self-titled debut album that featured songs by blues legends such as Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Robert Johnson, along with covers like Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene.”
Over his six-decade career, Hammond released more than 30 albums. He won a Grammy in 1985 for his performance on the compilation Blues Explosion, recorded at the 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival. Additional Grammy nominations followed for albums including Rough & Tough (2009, nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album), You Can’t Judge a Book by the Cover (1993), Trouble No More (1994), Found True Love (1996), Long As I Have You (1998), and In Your Arms Again (1995).
In 2011, Hammond was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame. George Thorogood, of the Destroyers, paid tribute: “For more than 50 years, John Hammond, Jr. was an icon, a professional role model and, most importantly, a friend,” Thorogood wrote. “While we mourn his passing, we celebrate what the man and his music meant to us, and to so many.”
