John Hammond

A Grammy-nominated musician, John Hammond is a master of the blues with a reputation as a musician’s musician. In his return performance on The Lyric stage, Hammond will perform another soulful evening of songs from his extensive repertoire of covers and original compositions. Called a “blues legend with a voice like Robert Johnson’s” by The New York Times, Hammond is known for his energetic reinterpretations of classic blues pieces. Combining raw vocals, impeccable skills on the guitar, and riffs on his harmonica, blues musician John Hammond’s performances are like no other.

John Hammond began playing the guitar as a young boy growing up in New York City. As the son of record producer John H. Hammond, Hammond was surrounded with music. John dreamt of one day becoming a traveling blues singer and inspired by the music of Chuck Berry and Robert Johnson, the aspiring guitarist quickly taught himself the instrument. By the 1960s, John Hammond was touring nationally and recording with famous electric blues musicians in the New York area, including Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Performing with Hendrix and The Band early in their careers, John Hammond has been credited with helping the musicians reach wider recognition.

Throughout his career, John Hammond has released over 34 albums and has never stopped touring. The blues veteran has been nominated for 8 Grammy awards and 22 Blues Music Awards. Hammond received the 1985 Grammy award for his performance of “Blues Explosion,” featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan, Koko Taylor, and many others. In 2011, Hammond was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. His album Timeless, released in 2014, is a celebration of his 50 years working in the music industry. The album was recorded live and won the Acoustic Album of the Year award at the 2014 Blues Music Awards.