John Hammond, Blues Singer-Guitarist, Dies at 83
Best Classic Bands
By Jeff Tamarkin
3/1/2026
John Hammond, the blues singer and guitarist also known
as John P. Hammond and John Hammond Jr., died yesterday, Feb. 28, 2026. His
passing was confirmed by musician Paul James, a collaborator and close friend
of Hammond’s, who posted on Facebook that he received news of Hammond’s death
from the latter’s wife Marla. The cause and place of his death have not yet
been revealed. Hammond was 83.
The son of the famed Columbia Records producer and talent
scout also named John, the younger Hammond took to the guitar in high school
and began performing traditional-style acoustic blues. He turned professional
after dropping out of Antioch College in Ohio and signed with Vanguard Records
in 1963; his debut album consisted largely of interpretations of material
written by such blues artists as Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Robert
Johnson, as well as Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene.” During his lengthy career,
Hammond, who also played harmonica, released more than 30 albums, most
remaining true to his favored blues styles. One album, however, 2001’s Wicked
Grin, consisted almost entirely of covers of Tom Waits songs.
Born in New York City on November 13, 1942, John Paul
Hammond was the son of Jemison McBride and John Henry Hammond Jr. The
latter—with whom the younger John did not live and saw infrequently after his
parents divorced—is credited with discovering and promoting an astounding array
of artists including Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan,
Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
John Jr. continued to record for Vanguard for several
years, then for many other labels, and although he continued to favor the
acoustic guitar throughout most of his career—his instrument of choice was
often the National Reso-Phonic Guitar—he also performed on electric guitar as
early as the mid-’60s; his 1965 album So Many Roads featured accompaniment by
guitarist Mike Bloomfield as well as three members of Ronnie Hawkins’ group who
would soon emerge as members of The Band: Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson and
Levon Helm. During this period, Hammond also befriended and sometimes recorded
with musicians such as Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix (who briefly played in
Hammond’s band before he became famous) and Eric Clapton. In 1973, Hammond
recorded the album Triumvirate along with Bloomfield and Dr. John.
Hammond won a Grammy in 1985 for his performance on the
compilation album Blues Explosion and received several other nominations during
his career. He has also won eight Blues Music Awards and received an additional
10 nominations.
HAMMOND, John (John Paul Hammond Jr.)
Born: 11/13/1942, New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Died: 2/28/2026, U.S.A.
John Hammond’s western – composer:
Little Big Man - 1970
