John Mayall: Pioneer of British blues dies aged 90

Mayall, who was born in Macclesfield and grew up in Manchester, founded the Bluesbreakers in the 1960s.

He was credited with helping to develop a blues revival among white musicians in England – and has been described, external as the “godfather of British blues”.

Mayall told the Guardian in 2014, external that “at the time, the scene in America was racially segregated” – but in Europe and England “the black blues began to be heard by an audience that was not listening to them in America”.

After their 1966 album featuring guitarist Clapton, the Bluesbreakers were acclaimed by music critics as one of the world’s most influential blues bands.

The group also became a training ground for other famous rock musicians including Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, as well as Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones – cementing Mayall’s reputation as a “serious talent magnet”.

He told the Guardian he “managed to pick out some pretty special people”, choosing band members based on the specific sound he was after.