The Groove

The greatest blues artists of all time

115 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

Eric Clapton

United Kingdom · 1945– · rock

15.855

Why this number?

The full board · page 2

David Bowie

United Kingdom · 1947–2016 · rock 1.410

26 Steve Winwood

United Kingdom · 1948– · blues 1.375

27 Bill Wyman 1936– · blues 1.375

28 Charlie Watts

United Kingdom · 1941–2021 · blues 1.375

29 Howlin’ Wolf

United States of America · 1910–1976 · blues 1.375

30 John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers

United Kingdom · 1963–2008 · blues 1.333

Leonard Cohen

Canada · 1934–2016 · rock 1.314

32 John Mayer

United States of America · 1977– · rock 1.307

R.E.M.

United States of America · 1980–2011 · alternative rock 1.275

Nelly

United States of America · 1974– · hip hop 1.267

35 Poe

United States of America · 1968– · alternative rock 1.257

36 Blind Faith

United Kingdom · 1968–1969 · blues rock 1.213

37 Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals

United States of America · 1997– · blues 1.100

38 Gary Moore

United Kingdom · 1952–2011 · blues rock 1.095

39 Nina Simone

United States of America · 1933–2003 · jazz 1.050

Jethro Tull

United Kingdom · 1967– · progressive rock 1.038

41 Cypress Hill

United States of America · 1988– · hip hop 1.013

Metallica

United States of America · 1981– · heavy metal 0.955

Guns N’ Roses

United States of America · 1985– · hard rock 0.935

Pearl Jam

United States of America · 1990– · grunge 0.921

45 Hozier

Ireland · 1990– · rock 0.873

Madonna

United States of America · 1958– · pop 0.782

Blind Guardian

Germany · 1984– · power metal 0.781

48 Gary Clark Jr.

United States of America · 1984– · blues rock 0.760