Five Gibson Blues Heroes

Five Gibson Blues Heroes
02.08.2010
Aidin Vaziri
Gibson Lifestyle

Got the blues? Well, the blues got Gibsons. We take a look at some of the pioneering guitarists who have used our instruments while helping shape the history of rock and roll.

Albert King

Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix all studied King’s sharp tones and deep bends. Having picked up the first Korina model of the Flying V, he became synonymous with the guitar that encouraged his experimental, mind-blowing solos on classics like “Born Under a Bad Sign” and “(I Love) Lucy.”

Watch: Albert King "Born Under a Bad Sign (Live in Sweden 1980)"

B.B. King

Is there a more famous blues guitar than Lucille? King, ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as the third greatest guitarist of all time, has kept some incarnation of the ES-355 at his side since 1949. Gibson started manufacturing a custom-built model in 1980, allowing everyone to experience the sound that inspired guitarists from Eric Clapton to Keith Richards. Even Aerosmith’s Joe Perry got a customized model decorated with his wife’s visage, naming it Billie.

Watch: B.B. King


John Lee Hooker

He could do anything – sing, write or play. Using hollow-body electrics including Gibson ES-125s, ES-135s and Epiphone Sheratons, the Mississippi bluesman became known for his timeless one-chord stomps like “Boogie Chillen” and “Boom Boom.”

Watch: John Lee Hooker "Hobo Blues"


Robert Johnson

The name most people associate with the Delta blues played an L-1 acoustic guitar – the original, which allegedly appeared at auction a few years back, going for $6 million. Fortunately, the reproduction model is much more affordable, and not just for Johnson disciples like Led Zeppelin, Cream and the Stones. His life was brief and his death was mysterious, but his legacy – just 29 songs – is momentous.

Watch: Robert Johnson "Sweet Home Chicago"


Hubert Sumlin

This fingerstyle player served as Howlin’ Wolf’s sideman for more than 25 years. Sumlin is recognized as one of the originators of Chicago blues, using a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop. Hendrix often claimed Hubert was his favorite guitarist, which makes sense if you’ve ever had the chance to study his push-pull rhythms and blasts of noise on blues standards like "Smokestack Lightning," "Back Door Man" and "The Red Rooster