John Mayall

John Mayall: piano, organ, guitar, vocals
b. 29 November 1933, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England

1945 (age 11-12)

Begins learning guitar and ukelele.

1946 (age 12-13)

Attends Junior Art School in Manchester.

1947 (age 13-14)

Begins learning piano

1949 (age 15-16)

Graduates from Manchester Junior School of Art; works briefly as window dresser

1951 (age 17-18)

Joins army at age of conscription.

1955 (aged 21-22)

Forms Powerhouse Four (blues group) after leaving army; earns reputation as eccentric by playing the blues and living in a tree house.

1960-62 (ages 26-29)

Forms Blues Syndicat (inspired by Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated) performing at Manchester's Twisted Wheel Club.

1963 (age 29-30)

Alexis Korner convinces him to move to London where Mayall forms the Blues Breakers. He also works as a draughtsman.

1964 (age 30-31)

Signs with Decca

April. "Crawling Up the Hill" / "Mr. James" (Decca F 11900) [released]

1965 (age 31-32)

February. "Crocodile Walk" / "Blues City Shakedown" [released]

March. John Mayall Plays John Mayall (recorded live at Klooks Kleek in West Hampstead) [released]

Gains considerable attention when Eric Clapton leaves ascending Yardbirds to play with the Bluesbreakers

"I'm Your Witchdoctor" / "Telephone Blues" (produced by Jimmy Page)

< Mayall with John McVie, Hugh Flint, and Roger Dean

1966 (age 32-33)

July. Bluesbreakers (John Mayall with Eric Clapton). [LP released; UK6]

September. "Key to Love" / "Parchman Farm" [released]

November. "All Your Love" / " Hideaway" [released]

Peter Green replaces Clapton who forms Cream.

October. "Looking Back" / "So Many Roads" [released]

"Sitting in the Rain" / "Out of Reach"

1967 (age 33-34)

A Hard Road [LP released in February; UK10]

"Curly" / "Rubber Duck" [released March]

April. John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Paul Butterfield [released]

John Mayall, Hugh Flint, Eric Clapton, and John McVie

April. "Double Trouble" / "It Hurts Me Too" [released]

Mick Taylor replaces Green who leaves with Mick Fleetwood and John McVie to form Fleetwood Mac.

See John Mayall's website, johnmayall.com.