The Blues Hall of Fame is a music museum operated by the Blues Foundation at 421 S. Main Street in Memphis, Tennessee. Initially, the "Blues Hall of Fame" was not a physical building, but a listing of people who have significantly contributed to blues music. Started in 1980, it honors people who have performed, recorded, or documented blues. The museum opened to the public on May 8, 2015.
Inductees Performers
+List of performers inducted Year Name1980Big Bill BroonzyWillie DixonJohn Lee HookerLightnin' HopkinsSon HouseHowlin' WolfElmore JamesBlind Lemon JeffersonRobert JohnsonB.B. KingLittle WalterMemphis MinnieMuddy WatersCharley PattonJimmy ReedBessie SmithOtis SpannT-Bone WalkerSonny Boy Williamson I Sonny Boy Williamson II1981Bobby "Blue" BlandRoy BrownBlind Willie McTellProfessor LonghairTampa Red1982Leroy CarrRay CharlesBig Walter HortonFreddie KingMagic Sam1983Louis JordanAlbert KingRobert NighthawkMa RaineyBig Joe Turner1984Otis RushHound Dog TaylorBig Mama Thornton1985Chuck BerryBuddy GuyJ. B. HuttoSlim Harpo1986Albert CollinsTommy JohnsonLead Belly1987Percy MayfieldEddie TaylorSonny Terry1988Mississippi John HurtLittle MiltonJay McShannJohnny Winter1989Clifton ChenierRobert Lockwood Jr.Memphis Slim1990Blind BlakeLonnie JohnsonBukka White1991Sleepy John EstesBillie HolidayMississippi Fred McDowellSunnyland Slim1992Skip JamesJohnny ShinesBig Joe Williams1993Champion Jack DupreeLowell Fulson1994Arthur "Big Boy" CrudupWynonie Harris1995Jimmy Rogers1996Charles BrownDavid "Honeyboy" Edwards1997Brownie McGheeKoko Taylor1998Luther AllisonJunior Wells1999Clarence "Gatemouth" BrownRoosevelt Sykes2000Johnny OtisStevie Ray Vaughan2001Etta JamesLittle Junior ParkerRufus Thomas2002Ruth BrownBig Maceo Merriweather2003Fats DominoPinetop PerkinsSippie WallaceDinah Washington2004Bo DiddleyBlind Boy Fuller2005Walter DavisIke Turner2006Paul ButterfieldJames CottonRoy MiltonBobby Rush2007Dave BartholomewDr. JohnEddie "Guitar Slim" JonesSister Rosetta Tharpe2008Jimmy McCracklinMississippi SheiksHubert SumlinJohnny "Guitar" WatsonPeetie WheatstrawJimmy Witherspoon2009Reverend Gary DavisSon SealsTaj MahalIrma Thomas2010Lonnie BrooksGus CannonW. C. HandyAmos MilburnCharlie MusselwhiteBonnie Raitt2011Big MaybelleRobert CrayJohn P. HammondAlberta HunterDenise LaSalleJ. B. Lenoir2012Billy Boy ArnoldMike BloomfieldBuddy and Ella Johnson Lazy LesterFurry LewisMatt "Guitar" MurphyFrank StokesAllen Toussaint2013Otis ClayEarl HookerLittle Brother MontgomeryJimmie RodgersJody WilliamsJoe Louis Walker2014Big Jay McNeelyEddie ShawEddie "Cleanhead" VinsonR. L. BurnsideRobert Pete Williams2015Eric ClaptonLittle RichardTommy Brown2016Elvin BishopEddy ClearwaterJimmy JohnsonJohn Mayall The Memphis Jug Band2017Johnny CopelandHenry GrayWillie JohnsonLatimoreMagic SlimMavis Staples2018The AcesGeorgia Tom DorseySam LayMamie SmithRoebuck "Pops" Staples2019Count BasieBooker T. & the M.G.'sIda CoxPee Wee CraytonAretha Franklin2020–2021Eddie BoydVictoria SpiveyBilly BranchBettye LaVetteSyl JohnsonGeorge "Harmonica" Smith2022Lucille BoganLittle Willie JohnJohnnie Taylor2023Carey BellJunior KimbroughEsther PhillipsJohn PrimerSnooky PryorFenton RobinsonJosh White2024Sugar Pie DeSantoLurrie BellOdettaJimmy RushingScrapper BlackwellO. V. WrightLil' Ed and the Blues Imperials2025Bob StrogerWilliam BellBlind Willie JohnsonHenry TownshendJessie Mae Hemphill2026Kenny NealBob MargolinHenry "Ragtime Texas" ThomasRosco GordonBarbara LynnMarcia Ball
Nonperformers +List of nonperformers inducted Year Name1991Leonard Chess1994Bill "Hoss" AllenJohn LomaxAlan LomaxJohn RichbourgGene Nobles1995Phil Chess1996Bob KoesterPete Welding1997Bruce Iglauer1998Lillian McMurrySam Phillips1999Lester MelroseChris Strachwitz2000Dick Waterman2001Theresa NeedhamRobert Palmer2002Jim O'Neal2003Ralph Bass2004J. Mayo Williams2005H. C. Speir2006Bihari brothersBobby RobinsonJerry Wexler2007Ahmet ErtegunArt Rupe2008John HammondPaul Oliver2009Clifford AntoneMike LeadbitterBob Porter2010Peter Guralnick"Sunshine" Sonny Payne2011Bruce BrombergVivian Carter & James BrackenSamuel ChartersJohn Wesley Work III2012Horst Lippmann & Fritz RauDoc PomusPervis Spann2013Cosimo MatassaDave ClarkHenry Glover2014Mike KappusDon RobeyDick Shurman2016Tommy Couch Sr. and Wolf Stephenson2017Amy van Singel2018Al Benson2019Moe Asch2020Ralph Peer2022Mary Katherine AldinOtis Blackwell2023David Evans2024William R. Ferris2025Bob Geddins2026Syd Nathan
Literature +List of books/magazines inducted Year Book/magazine Author(s) Years published1982Living Blues1970–presentBlues and Gospel Records 1902–1942Robert M.W. Dixon and John Godrich1964–1997Blues Unlimited1963–19871983Blues Who’s Who: A Biographical Dictionary of Blues SingersSheldon Harris19791985Blues Records 1943–1966Mike Leadbitter and Neil Slaven19681986Chicago Breakdown (Chicago Blues)Mike Rowe1973–19811987The Story of the BluesPaul Oliver19691988Blues Fell This Morning: Meaning in the BluesPaul Oliver19601989Feel Like Going HomePeter Guralnick19711990Big Bill Blues: William Broonzy’s Story as told to Big Bill Broonzy19551991The Country BluesSamuel Charters1959Big Road BluesDavid Evans19821992I Am the Blues: The Willie Dixon StoryWillie Dixon, Don Snowden19891993Urban BluesCharles Keil19661994Nothing But the Blues: The Music and the MusiciansLawrence Cohn19931995Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of FreedomPeter Guralnick1986Searching for Robert Johnson: The Life and Legend of the ‘King of the Delta Blues''' |Peter Guralnick |1989 |- |1996 |The Land Where the Blues Began|Alan Lomax |1993 |- |1997 |Honkers and Shouters: The Golden Years of Rhythm & Blues|Arnold Shaw (author) |1978 |- |1998 |Blues from the Delta|William Ferris |1970 |- |1999 |The World Don't Owe Me Nothing|David "Honeyboy" Edwards |1997 |- |2000 |The Country Blues|Samuel Charters |1959 |- |2001 |Stormy Monday: The T-Bone Walker Story|Helen Oakley Dance |1987 |- |2002 |Spinning Blues Into Gold: The Chess Brothers and the Legendary Chess Records|Nadine Cohodas |2000 |- |2003 |Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters|Robert Gordon |2002 |- |2004 |Juke Blues magazine | |1985–present |- |2005 |Blues People: Negro Music in White America|Amiri Baraka |1963 |- | rowspan="2" |2006 |Blues & Rhythm magazine | |1984–present |- |Chasin' That Devil's Music|Gayle Dean Wardlow |1998 |- |2007 |Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story|Tony Glover, Scott Dirks & Ward Gaines |2002 |- |2008 |Moanin' at Midnight: The Life and Times of Howlin' Wolf|James Segrest & Mark Hoffman |2004 |- |2011 |Walking to New Orleans: The Story of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues|John Broven |1978 |- |2012 |The Voice of the Blues|Jim O'Neal |2002 |- |2013 |Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records|Rob Bowman |2003 |- |2014 |Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke|Peter Guralnick |2005 |- |2016 |Early Downhome Blues: A Musical and Cultural Analysis|Jeff Todd Titon |1977 |- |2017 |Father of the Blues|W.C. Handy |1941 |- |2018 |I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy|Bob Reisman |2011 |- |2019 |Lost Delta Found: Rediscovering the Fisk UniversityLibrary of Congress Coahoma County Study, 1941–1942 |John Wesley Work III |2005 |- |2020 |Earl Hooker, Blues Master|Sebastian Danchin |2001 |- |2022 |Red River Blues: The Blues Tradition in the Southeast|Bruce Bastin |1986 |- |2023 |The Original Blues: The Emergence of the Blues in African American Vaudeville 1899-1926|Lynn Abbott & Doug Seroff |2017 |- |2024 |Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday|Angela Davis |1998 |- |2025 |Woman With Guitar: Memphis Minnie's Blues|Beth and Paul Garon |1998 |- |2026 |Ragged but Right: Black Traveling Shows, “Coon Songs”, and the Dark Parkway to Blues and Jazz''Lynn Abbott & Doug Seroff2007
Albums +List of albums inducted Year Artist Title Record label Release year Album type Notes1982Robert JohnsonKing of the Delta Blues SingersColumbia Records1961Compilation1983B.B. KingLive at the RegalABC-Paramount Records1965LiveMuddy WatersMcKinley Morganfield A.K.A. Muddy WatersChess Records1971CompilationThe Best of Muddy WatersChess Records1958Greatest HitsCharley PattonFounder of the Delta BluesYazoo Records1970CompilationRobert JohnsonKing of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. IIColumbia Records1970Compilation1984Magic SamWest Side SoulDelmark Records1968StudioLittle WalterBoss Blues HarmonicaChess Records1972CompilationJunior WellsHoodoo Man BluesDelmark Records1965Studio1985Howlin WolfChester Burnett A.K.A. Howlin' WolfChess Records1972CompilationHowlin WolfChess Records1962CompilationAlbert KingBorn Under a Bad SignStax Records1967Compilation1986Albert CollinsIce PickinAlligator Records1978StudioWillie DixonI Am the BluesColumbia Records1970StudioAlbert KingLive Wire/Blues PowerStax Records1968Live1987Freddie KingHide AwayKing Records1969CompilationBobby "Blue" BlandTwo Steps from the BluesDuke Records1961CompilationLeroy CarrBlues Before SunriseColumbia Records1962Compilation1988Muddy WatersDown on Stovall’s PlantationTestament Records1966CompilationThe Chess BoxP-Vine Records1985Greatest HitsElmore JamesThe Original Flair & Meteor SidesAce Records1984Greatest Hits1989Otis RushRight Place, Wrong TimeBullfrog Records1976StudioBessie SmithThe World’s Greatest Blues SingerColumbia Records1970CompilationAlbert Collins, Robert Cray & Johnny CopelandShowdown!Alligator Records1985StudioRobert NighthawkLive on Maxwell Street 1964Rounder Records1980Live1990Skip JamesThe Complete 1931 SessionYazoo Records1986CompilationWillie DixonThe Chess BoxMCA Chess Records1989Greatest HitsMagic Sam Blues BandBlack MagicDelmark Records1969Studio1991Muddy WatersCan't Get No Grindin'Chess Records1973StudioThe only Muddy Waters album in the Hall of Fame that was recorded as an albumVarious ArtistsChicago/The Blues/Today!Vanguard Records1966CompilationLittle WalterThe Best of Little WalterChecker Records1958Greatest Hits1992Bukka WhiteParchman FarmColumbia Records1970CompilationRobert JohnsonThe Complete RecordingsColumbia/Legacy Records1990Greatest HitsChampion Jack DupreeBlues from the GutterAtlantic Records1958StudioSon HouseFather of the Folk BluesColumbia Records1965Compilation1993Jimmy RogersChicago BoundChess Records1970Compilation1994T-Bone WalkerThe Complete Recordings of T-Bone Walker 1940–1954Mosaic Records1990Greatest Hits1995Otis SpannOtis Spann Is the BluesCandid Records1961StudioBig Joe TurnerThe Boss of the BluesAtlantic Records1956StudioThe oldest album on the list1996Hound Dog Taylor & the HouserockersHound Dog Taylor & the HouserockersAlligator Records1971Studio1997Paul Butterfield Blues BandPaul Butterfield Blues Band Elektra Records1965Studio1998Albert KingI’ll Play the Blues for YouStax Records1972Studio1999Junior WellsBlues Hit Big TownDelmark Records1977Compilation2000Mississippi Fred McDowellMississippi Delta BluesArhoolie Records1964Compilation2001Muddy WatersThe Complete Plantation RecordingsMCA Chess Records1993Compilation2002B.B. KingLive in Cook County JailABC Records1971Live2003Junior WellsIt's My Life Baby!Vanguard Records1966Studio2005Z. Z. HillDown HomeMalaco Records1982Studio2006Charley PattonScreamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley PattonRevenant Records2001Greatest HitsThe latest album on the listMississippi Fred McDowellI Do Not Play No Rock 'n' RollCapitol Records1970StudioMcDowell's first album that featured electric guitarEtta JamesTell MamaCadet Records1968Studio2007Junior ParkerDriving Wheel Duke Records1962StudioSonny Boy Williamson IIDown and Out BluesChecker Records1960CompilationRobert Pete Williams & othersAngola Prisoners' BluesLouisiana Folklore Society