Elmore James (né Brooks; January 27, 1918 – May 24, 1963)[1] was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and bandleader.

[2] Noted for his use of loud amplification and his stirring voice, James was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

He began making music at the age of 12, using a simple one-string instrument (diddley bow, or jitterbug) strung on a shack wall.

[1] He made his debut as a session leader in August that year recording a Robert Johnson composition, "Dust My Broom", which was a surprise R&B hit in 1952.

[2] James died of a heart attack in Chicago in 1963, at the age of 45,[2] as he was about to tour Europe with that year's American Folk Blues Festival.

[4] Rock guitarists Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, Brian Jones, Jeremy Spencer, and Frank Zappa have acknowledged his influence.

[10][11] In the Beatles' song "For You Blue", John Lennon plays a slide solo on a Höfner lap steel guitar;[12] George Harrison encourages him with "Go, Johnny, go ... Elmore James got nothin' on this, baby".