Photo: Kendall Messick
Elmore Magazine

Man of the Moment. This veteran bluesman has made his own history, and helped make history for others (including Hendrix and Dylan) - to the benefit of us all. John describes his trajectory from callow youth to his 30th album.





John Hammond plays Hohner Harmonicas
and uses D'Addario Strings




Entire site ©2016, John Hammond

John Hammond

NEWS & HAPPENINGS

NEW  - PODCAST  - SIDETRACK LINER NOTES (Part 1 of 2) CLICK TO LISTEN

PODCAST - WTF with Marc Maron -  CLICK TO LISTEN   Marc Maron conducts a great interview with John who is in peak storytelling form.  The two cover a multitude of topics related to John's career and the changing music scene.  This is a must for any fans of John as well as for anyone with an interest in the history of American music.  For those in a hurry, John's segment starts at about the 29:30 mark and runs for the duration of the podcast. This will be an hour well spent. 

AWARDS! John Hammond was honored with two awards at the Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Awards in Memphis, on May 7, 2015, for Best Acoustic Blues Album for "Timeless" and Best Acoustic Blues Artist!

The Blues Music Awards are universally recognized as the highest accolade afforded blues music performers. The annual Blues Music Awards ceremony is the premier event for blues professionals, musicians, and fans from all over the world.

NPR: John Hammond speaks to National Public Radio's Arun Rath about the time Tom Waits wrote him a song on the spot. This classic story aired on NPR's "All Things Considered" in February, 2014.

Listen to John Hammond on NPR
 

 

UPCOMING SHOWS 

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New  January 21, 2022 - Co-bill with Kim Wilson  - 8PM Show (Doors 6:30)
The Suffolk Theater 110 East Main Street, Riverhead, NY
 

LATEST ALBUM

Cover of Timeless CD TIMELESS (January 2014)
John's newest album, Timeless, marks his 52nd year as a recording artist. Fittingly, it was named Best Acoustic Blues Album at Annual Blues Music Awards on May 7, 2015. The new CD adds to an already incredible career, having released thirty-five solo albums since 1964's Big City Blues. Timeless, following on the heels of 2010's Grammy nominated CD Rough and Tough, was recorded live at Chan's in Woonsocket, RI (one of Hammond's favorite venues in the world). The album honors a host of legendary and hugely influential blues artists including Chuck Berry, Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf and Bobby "Blue" Bland, as well as the living legend and longtime collaborator and friend of Hammond's, Tom Waits.
Buy from: Amazon.com   iTunes

"John's sound is so compelling, complete, symmetrical and soulful with just his voice, guitar and harmonica, it is at first impossible to imagine improving it... He's a great force of nature. John sounds like a big train coming. He chops them all down." - Tom Waits

"John Hammond is a master... He is a virtuoso. A Conjurer... A Modernist... John is in a very small circle of men with a guitar and a harmonica. Jimmy Reed, Howlin' Wolf, Bob Dylan. The guitar is an orchestra. He's sending messages. Storytelling. All mystery. Protection. The language goes out through the night... The Big Boom. Boom the room." - T Bone Burnett
 

AWARDS

★ 2015 Blues Music Award WINNER for Acoustic Artist of The Year, and Acoustic Album of The Year ("Timeless")
2012 NEW YORK BLUES HALL OF FAME Inductee
Blues Hall of Fame log2011 BLUES HALL OF FAME Inductee
★ 2011 Blues Music Award WINNER for Acoustic Artist of the Year
2010 GRAMMY Nominee for "Rough & Tough" (Best Traditional Blues Album.) Rough & Tough, his 33rd album since his 1962 self-titled debut, was recorded live in November 2008 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in NYC. Included are classic songs written by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Blind Willie McTell and Tom Waits among others, as well as two John Hammond originals
2006 GRAMMY Nominee "In Your Arms Again"
2002 GRAMMY Nominee for Best Historical Album Washington Square Memoirs Box Set features John Hammond performing "Drop Down Mama"
1999 GRAMMY Nominee "Long As I Have You"
1998 GRAMMY Nominee "Found True Love"
1994 GRAMMY Nominee "Trouble No More"
1993 GRAMMY Nominee "Got Love If You Want It"
★ 1985 GRAMMY Winner for his performance on "Blues Explosion," a compilation from the Montreux Jazz Festival also featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan, Koko Taylor and others

Blues Music Award Winner: 2004 & 2003 for Best Acoustic Blues Artist, 2002 for Best Acoustic Album for his Tom Waits produced "Wicked Grin." To date John Hammond has been honored with a total of 8 Blues Music Awards and an additional 10 nominations.

Featured on 2010 Blues Music Awards Nominated "Things About Comin' My Way - A Tribute to the music of the Mississippi Sheiks" (Acoustic Album of the Year)

Host of the BRAVO TV special and Sony Home Video, The Search for Robert Johnson

Performed or recorded with Jimi Hendrix (discovered while playing in John's band), Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Duane Allman, Mike Bloomfield, JJ Cale, Tom Waits, The Band, John Lee Hooker, Dr. John and many more. He remains one of the world's premier acoustic blues artists. A tireless performer, he continues to tour world-wide.