OK another example BB KING.When BB started he was doing somethin diffrent it was cool. It wasn't the electrified Delta of Muddy Waters before him ( by The way I guess it's my fault for opening this can of worms but, did I read right? someone had less than kind words about MUDDY!!!)back to BB he was playing this hip uptown swing thang more soul than blues really except for BB's Lightnin Sam style leads, but living traditions change and that's cool this was the new Urban Blues.
Some 40 years have past and everyone still sounds or tries to sound like BB. there is more varity in a box of corn flakes.Show of hands how many people have seen more than twenty diffrent bands cover ALL these songs in one single nights performance A.Kings "born under a bad sign" , bb's The thrill is gone,"hootchie kootchie man" jimi's "RED HOUSE" throw in some Clapton and Vaughn and you have THe one and almost only blues show of the last 15 or 20 years.
my point being the tradition is DYING and partially becouse there is the trend toward small singular Icons. Blues is a folk music.The cultural Trend toward Celebrity since we all put TV's in our living rooms is killing it. Robert Johnson by himself with less than 30 song to his credit is the celebrity of the old blues. the rest of the tradition has already been washed away.Known to a hand full of audo philes and musicians Rarely ever performed. KEEP THE LAMP TRIMMED AND BURNING- Furry