Without This Blues Legend, Led Zeppelin Might Never Have Existed

When one thinks of classic rock, dozens of bands come to mind, from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones to Pink Floyd. However, the classic rock status quo has been thrown into question in recent years for ignoring the foundational contributions that Black musicians have made to the genre. Big Mama Thornton, for instance, influenced stars like Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin, and Chuck Berry was cited as a major source of inspiration by Mick Jagger and John Lennon. Meanwhile, it's nearly impossible to discuss rock history without bringing up B.B. King, who successfully married blues guitar playing with rock rhythms, paving the way for old favorites like The Jimi Hendrix Experience as well as modern masters like The Alabama Shakes. Another band influenced by King was Led Zeppelin, without whom the hard rock, blues rock, and heavy metal genres would not be what they are today—and in fact may not even exist. For that reason, B.B. King deserves to be appreciated not only for his impact on blues guitar but also for the far-reaching influence that his musicianship has had on other genres, both disparate and adjacent.