As stated on the website, the Blues Hall of Fame “is a historical record of those who have made the Blues timeless through performance, documentation, and recording.” It was launched by the Blues Foundation in 1980. Inductee categories include performers, non-performers, songs, albums, and literature.
See other Hall of Fames.
The following performers and non-performers have been inducted.
A
- The Aces (2018)
- Mary Katherine Aldin (2022, non-performer)
- Bill “Hoss” Allen (1994, non-performer)
- Luther Allison (1998)
- Clifford Antone (2009, non-performer)
- Billy Boy Arnold (2012)
- Moe Asch (2019, non-performer)
B
- Dave Bartholomew (2007)
- Count Basie (2019)
- Ralph Bass (2003, non-performer)
- Carey Bell (2023)
- Lurrie Bell (2024)
- William Bell (2025)
- Al Benson (2018, non-performer)
- Chuck Berry (1985)
- Big Maybelle (2011)
- Bihari Brothers (2006, non-performer)
- Elvin Bishop (2016)
- Otis Blackwell (2022, non-performer)
- Scrapper Blackwell (2024)
- Bobby “Blue” Bland (1981)
- Blind Blake (1990)
- Mike Bloomfield (2012)
- Lucille Bogan (2022)
- Booker T. & the MG’s (2019)
- Eddie Boyd (2021)
- Jimmy Bracken (2011, non-performer)
- Billy Branch (2021)
- Bruce Bromberg (2011, non-performer)
- Lonnie Brooks (2010)
- Big Bill Broonzy (1980)
- Charles Brown (1996)
- Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown (1999)
- Roy Brown (1981)
- Ruth Brown (2002)
- Tommy Brown (2015)
- R.L. Burnside (2014)
- Paul Butterfield (2006)
C
- Gus Cannon (2010)
- Leroy Carr (1982)
- Vivian Carter (2011, non-performer)
- Ray Charles (1982)
- Samuel Charters (2011, non-performer)
- Clifton Chenier (1989)
- Leonard Chess (1995, non-performer)
- Phil Chess (1995, non-performer)
- Eric Clapton (2015)
- Dave Clark (2013, non-performer)
- Otis Clay (2013)
- Eddy Clearwater (2016)
- Albert Collins (1986)
- Johnny Copeland (2017)
- James Cotton (2006)
- Tommy Couch, Sr. (2016, non-performer)
- Ida Cox (2019)
- Robert Cray (2011)
- Pee Wee Crayton (2019)
- Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup (1994)
D
- Reverend Gary Davis (2009)
- Walter Davis (2005)
- Sugar Pie Desanto (2024)
- Bo Diddley (2004)
- Willie Dixon (1980)
- Fats Domino (2003)
- Georgia Tom Dorsey (2018)
- Dr. John (2007)
- Champion Jack Dupree (1993)
E
- David “Honeyboy” Edwards (1996)
- Ahmet Ertegün (2007, non-performer)
- Sleepy John Estes (1991)
- David Evans (2023, non-performer)
F
- William R. Ferris (2024, non-performer)
- Aretha Franklin (2019)
- Blind Boy Fuller (2004)
- Lowell Fulson (1993)
G
- Bob Geddins (2025, non-performer)
- Henry Glover (2013, non-performer)
- Henry Gray (2017)
- Peter Guralnick (2010, non-performer)
- Buddy Guy (1985)
H
- John Hammond (2008, non-performer)
- John Hammond, Jr. (2011)
- W. C. Handy (2010)
- Slim Harpo (1985)
- Wynonie Harris (1994)
- Jessie Mae Hemphill (2025)
- Billie Holiday (1991)
- Earl Hooker (2013)
- John Lee Hooker (1980)
- Lightnin’ Hopkins (1980)
- Big Walter Horton (1982)
- Son House (1980)
- Howlin’ Wolf (1980)
- Alberta Hunter (2011)
- Mississippi John Hurt (1988)
- J. B. Hutto (1985)
I
- Bruce Iglauer (1997, non-performer)
J
- Elmore James (1980)
- Etta James (2001)
- Skip James (1992)
- Blind Lemon Jefferson (1980)
- Little Willie John (2022)
- Blind Willie Johnson (2025)
- Buddy Johnson (2012)
- Ella Johnson (2012)
- Jimmy Johnson (2016)
- Lonnie Johnson (1990)
- Robert Johnson (1980)
- Syl Johnson (2021)
- Tommy Johnson (1986)
- Willie Johnson (2017)
- Eddie “Guitar Slim” Jones (2007)
- Louis Jordan (1983)
K
- Mike Kappus (2014, non-performer)
- Junior Kimbrough (2023)
- Albert King (1983)
- B. B. King (1980)
- Freddie King (1982)
- Bob Koester (1996, non-performer)
L
- Denise LaSalle (2011)
- Latimore (2017)
- Bettye LaVette (2021)
- Sam Lay (2018)
- Lead Belly (1986)
- Mike Leadbitter (2009, non-performer)
- J. B. Lenoir (2011)
- Lazy Lester (2012)
- Furry Lewis (2012)
- Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials (2024)
- Horst Lippmann (2012, non-performer)
- Little Milton (1988)
- Little Richard (2015)
- Little Walter (1980)
- Robert Lockwood, Jr. (1989)
- Alan Lomax (1994, non-performer)
- John Lomax (1994, non-performer)
M
- Magic Sam (1982)
- Magic Slim (2017)
- Taj Mahal (2009)
- Cosimo Matassa (2013, non-performer)
- John Mayall (2016)
- Percy Mayfield (1987)
- Jimmy McCracklin (2008)
- Fred McDowell (1991)
- Brownie McGhee (1997)
- Lillian Shedd McMurry (1998, non-performer)
- Big Jay McNeely (2014)
- Jay McShann (1988)
- Blind Willie McTell (1981)
- Lester Melrose (1999, non-performer)
- Memphis Jug Band (2016)
- Memphis Minnie (1980)
- Memphis Slim (1989)
- Big Maceo Merriweather (2002)
- Amos Milburn (2010)
- Roy Milton (2006)
- Mississippi Sheiks (2008)
- Little Brother Montgomery (2013)
- Matt "Guitar" Murphy (2012)
- Charlie Musselwhite (2010)
N
- Theresa Needham (2001, non-performer)
- Robert Nighthawk (1983)
- Gene Nobles (1994, non-performer)
O
- Odetta (2024)
- Jim O’Neal (2002, non-performer)
- Paul Oliver (2008, non-performer)
- Johnny Otis (2000)
P-Q
- Robert Palmer (2001, non-performer)
- Little Junior Parker (2001)
- Charley Patton (1980)
- “Sunshine” Sonny Payne (2010, non-performer)
- Ralph Peer (2020, non-performer)
- Pinetop Perkins (2003)
- Esther Phillips (2023)
- Sam Phillips (1998, non-performer)
- Doc Pomus (2012, non-performer)
- Bob Porter (2009, non-performer)
- John Primer (2023)
- Professor Longhair (1981)
- Snooky Pryor (2023)
R
- Ma Rainey (1983)
- Bonnie Raitt (2010)
- Fritz Rau (2012, non-performer)
- Jimmy Reed (1980)
- John Richbourg (1994, non-performer)
- Don Robey (2014, non-performer)
- Bobby Robinson (2006, non-performer)
- Fenton Robinson (2023)
- Jimmie Rodgers (2013)
- Jimmy Rogers (1995)
- Art Rupe (2007, non-performer)
- Bobby Rush (2006)
- Otis Rush (1984)
- Jimmy Rushing (2024)
S
- Son Seals (2009)
- Eddie Shaw (2014
- Johnny Shines (1992)
- Dick Shurman (2014, non-performer)
- Bessie Smith (1980)
- George “Harmonica” Smith (2021)
- Mamie Smith (2018)
- Otis Spann (1980)
- Pervis Spann (2012, non-performer)
- H. C. Speir (2005, non-performer)
- Victoria Spivey (2021)
- Mavis Staples (2017)
- Roebuck “Pops” Staples (2018)
- Wolf Stephenson (2016, non-performer)
- Frank Stokes (2012)
- Chris Strachwitz (1999, non-performer)
- Bob Stroger (2025)
- Hubert Sumlin (2008)
- Sunnyland Slim (1991)
- Roosevelt Sykes (1999)
T-U
- Tampa Red (1981)
- Eddie Taylor (1987)
- Hound Dog Taylor (1984)
- Johnnie Taylor (2022)
- Koko Taylor (1997)
- Sonny Terry (1986)
- Sister Rosetta Tharpe (2007)
- Irma Thomas (2009)
- Rufus Thomas (2001)
- Big Mama Thornton (1984)
- Allen Toussaint (2012)
- Henry Townshend (2025)
- Ike Turner (2005)
- Big Joe Turner (1983)
V
- Amy van Singel (2017, non-performer)
- Stevie Ray Vaughan (2000)
- Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson (2014)
W-X-Y-Z
- Joe Lous Walker (2013)
- T-Bone Walker (1980)
- Sippie Wallace (2003)
- Dinah Washington (2003)
- Dick Waterman (2000, non-performer)
- Muddy Waters (1980)
- Johnny “Guitar” Watson (2008)
- Pete Welding (1996, non-performer)
- Junior Wells (1998)
- Jerry Wexler (2006, non-performer)
- Peetie Wheatstraw (2008)
- Bukka White (1990)
- Josh White (2023)
- Big Joe Williams (1992)
- Jody Williams (2013)
- J. Mayo Williams (2004, non-performer)
- Robert “Pete” Williams (2014)
- Sonny Boy Williamson I (1980)
- Sonny Boy Williamson II (1980)
- Johnny Winter (1988)
- Jimmy Witherspoon (2008)
- John W. Work III (2011, non-performer)
- O.V. Wright (2024)
Resources/Related Links:
First posted 3/1/2017; last updated 5/7/2025. |
