John Mayall Net Worth: Fortune explored as music legend known for pioneering British blues passes away at 90

British blues musician John Mayall, whose band The Bluesbreaker helped incubate artists like Eric Clapton and Mick Fleetwood, recently passed away at 90. The unfortunate news was announced on Mayall's Instagram page, which said he died on Monday, July 22, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones in his home in California.

"Health issues that forced John to end his epic touring career have finally led to peace for one of this world’s greatest road warriors. John Mayall gave us ninety years of tireless efforts to educate, inspire and entertain," it read.

Mayall's career spanned almost seven decades, and he remained active until his death. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the British native boasted an estimated fortune of $5 million at the time of his death.

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John Mayall is often fondly called the "godfather of British blues"

Hailing from Macclesfield, England, John Mayall was born to a guitarist, Murray Mayall. Finding an early interest in blues, the musician taught himself guitar, harmonica, and keyboard. Following a stint in Korea as part of his national service, he attended the Manchester College of Art.

At the time, he played with a local band, Powerhouse Four. After graduating, he moved to London to pursue a career in music.

In 1963, he formed John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers with Peter Ward, John McVie, and Bernie Watson. The band regularly played at the Marquee Cub, and signed with Decca Records, releasing a few singles and a live album.

However, they gained recognition in 1965 when Eric Clapton joined the band, helping them release their debut project, Blues Breakers. It peaked at the 6th spot on the UK charts.

In a 2003 BBC documentary on Mayall, Clapton confessed:

"To a certain extent I have used his hospitality, used his band and his reputation to launch my own career."

He added:

"I think he is a great musician. I just admire and respect his steadfastness."

In addition to experiments within the blues and rock genres, the singer-songwriter is also hailed for finding hidden talents. Throughout the band's run, their members consisted of Jack Bruce (and Clapton of Cream), Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, and Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac), and Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor (Canned Heat), among other legendary artists.

The group disbanded in the late 1960s but reunited in 1982 for a world tour. They continued playing together (the line-up kept changing) till 2008. Through the years, Mayall continued recording music and releasing albums, his last being The Sun is Shining Down in 2022.

John Mayall's discography boasts 36 studio albums and 34 live albums, with 44 singles. While he never found mainstream success, he is credited with forming his version of Chicago's Rhythm & Blues (British Blues) and played a major role in reviving the blues genre in the 1960s.

His song Wake Up Call and album The Sun Is Shining Down were nominated for Grammys. Talking with the Santa Barbara Independent in 2013, Mayall remarked:

"I’ve never had a hit record, I never won a Grammy Award, and Rolling Stone has never done a piece about me. I’m still an underground performer."

The multi-instrumentalist was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2005. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2024, and his career debut album, Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton, is named one of the best British blues albums. He was also inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2016.

Mayall is survived by his two former wives, six children, and six grandchildren.