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Before The Rolling Stones became stadium-filling rock stars, British blues was a small, crowded world where musicians constantly crossed paths, traded influences and occasionally ended up sharing a stage. Long John Baldry was right in the middle of it. Towering in stature and personality, Baldry helped create a musical bridge between American blues and the young British players hungry to absorb it. His connection with Mick Jagger and the early Stones is part of a much bigger story involving Alexis Korner, Rod Stewart, Elton John and a remarkable collection of future stars. Nobody had stadiums yet, thankfully, but the musical gossip was already getting interesting.
Enter Long John Baldry, a six-foot-seven-inch-tall British singer who as a fringe member of Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated used to come on stage at the end of the set with Mick Jagger and Paul Jones to singI’ve Got My Mojo Working. Upon Cyril Davies’ death, Long John Baldry took over the All-Stars, of which he had been a member, changing the band’s name to the Hoochie Coochie Men, a lineup which included singer Rod Stewart until its breakup in 1965. He and Stewart also joined Steampacket, another band which lasted for about a year. By 1966 Baldry led a band called Bluesology, which featured pianist Reg Dwight (who later changed his name to Elton John) and singer Marsha Hunt. It was this band that opened for the Stones on their eighth British tour in September/October 1966.
More about Long John Baldry and The Rolling Stones
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni
Long John Baldry was a pioneering British blues singer whose influence on the UK blues and rock scene in the 1960s is often underestimated. Born on January 12, 1941, in East London, Baldry’s powerful, gravelly voice and passion for the blues helped shape the sound of many young British musicians, including members of The Rolling Stones. His early career was heavily influenced by the Chicago blues scene, and his love for American blues legends such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Jimmy Reed became a cornerstone of his own musical identity.
Baldry’s most notable contribution to the British blues movement came when he fronted the band Blues Incorporated, one of the first groups to fuse traditional blues with the emerging British rock sound. In the early 1960s, he moved on to form The Hoochie Coochie Men, where he performed alongside notable musicians like Rod Stewart, Mick Fleetwood, and Jeff Beck. This group was instrumental in bridging the gap between blues and rock, playing a vital role in popularizing the genre in the UK.
A Rolling Stones’ Mentor in the Shadows
Long John’s connection with the Rolling Stones was particularly significant. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were early fans of Baldry’s work, and it was Baldry (along Brian Jones after they met) who introduced them to the music of blues legends, which profoundly impacted the Stones’ musical direction. He was also a mentor figure to the young musicians during the early days of their careers, providing guidance and offering performance opportunities.
Although Long John Baldry never achieved the mainstream fame of some of his contemporaries, his influence on the development of British blues and rock cannot be overstated. He remained a respected figure in the industry, with a career that spanned decades, and continues to be remembered as a key figure in the evolution of British blues and rock music.
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