◇ image via WikipediaBobby "Blue" Bland
Bobby "Blue" Bland is an act on the Starverb influence map. Their sound grew out of Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Luther Ingram, Lucky Peterson, Barry Goldberg and Nat King Cole. Those roots explain a lot about how Bobby "Blue" Bland arrange songs and choose their tones. They run in the same orbit as Tyrone Davis, Etta James, Bo Diddley, Elmore James and Latimore, sharing audiences, venues and reference points rather than a straight line of influence. Their influence carried into JAY-Z, Charles Neville, Z.Z. Hill, Jackie Shane and Lee Fields, where the same ideas turn up rearranged for a later generation. Altogether the chart holds 43 connections around Bobby "Blue" Bland, reaching back through Booker T. & the M.G.'s and forward to JAY-Z. Follow any of those threads to keep travelling the influence between bands and genres on Starverb.
Background
Robert Calvin Bland, known professionally as Bobby "Blue" Bland, was an American blues singer. Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel with the blues and R&B. He was described as "among the great storytellers of blues and soul music... [who] created tempestuous arias of love, betrayal and resignation, set against roiling, dramatic orchestrations, and left the listener drained but awed." The inspiration behind his unique style was a Detroit Preacher, CL Franklin, because Bland studied his sermons. He was sometimes referred to as the "Lion of the Blues" and as the "Sinatra of the Blues". His music was influenced by Nat King Cole.
Hover or focus a star to read the connection. Click any star to make it the new centre.
Bobby "Blue" Bland connections
Bobby "Blue" Bland grew out of Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Luther Ingram, Lucky Peterson and Barry Goldberg, shares an orbit with Tyrone Davis, Etta James, Bo Diddley and Elmore James, went on to shape JAY-Z, Charles Neville, Z.Z. Hill and Jackie Shane. 43 connections mapped across roots, kindred and legacy.
Who influenced Bobby "Blue" Bland
Sounds and acts that shaped Bobby "Blue" Bland.
Artists similar to Bobby "Blue" Bland
Artists and scenes sharing an orbit with Bobby "Blue" Bland.
Bands Bobby "Blue" Bland shaped
Where the influence of Bobby "Blue" Bland travelled next.
- JAY-Zartist
- Charles Nevilleartist
- Z.Z. Hillartist
- Jackie Shaneartist
- Lee Fieldsartist
- James Cottonartist
- Simply Redartist
- Sun Recordsartist
- Bill Medleyartist
- Lonnie Mackartist
- Mick Hucknallartist
- Junior Parkerartist
- Gladys Knight & the Pipsartist
- At Fillmore Eastartist
- Themartist
- Van Morrisonartist
- Whitesnakeartist
- David Coverdaleartist
- Kanye Westartist
Ideas. Vote for what you want to see next
Shapes the roadmapMusic Personality
Your taste as a shareable persona card, with a witty roast.
Quizzes & badges
Music quizzes that earn badges and climb a leaderboard.
Friend / taste matching
Match your taste with friends and see your overlap.
Gaps
Bands you've missed that listeners with similar taste already love.