John Hammond, Prolific Blues Guitarist and Singer, Dead at 83

Obituary John Hammond, Prolific Blues Guitarist and Singer, Dead at 83 Grammy-winning musician was the son of pioneering producer and talent scout John Hammond By Charisma Madarang Charisma Madarang Contact Charisma Madarang on X Contact Charisma Madarang by Email View all posts by Charisma Madarang March 2, 2026 John Hammond, the Grammy‑winning blues singer and guitarist whose prolific career honored the Delta blues across six decades, died on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the age of 83. His death was confirmed by musician and longtime collaborator Paul James, who shared that Hammond’s wife, Marla, had notified him of the news. Billboard Canada reported that Hammond had died of a cardiac arrest. “The blues world has lost a giant. I’ve lost my best friend,” said James. “I’ve just been going through the photos we’ve shared over the years — from the Horseshoe Tavern to Albert’s Hall in Toronto, from London to Montreal, to Edmonton to Ottawa — and each picture tells a story of great music, great people, and unforgettable nights. He was such an inspiration to me, I’ll miss him terribly.” Hammond, who was also known as as John P. Hammond or John Hammond Jr., was the son of pioneering producer and talent scout John Henry Hammond Jr. The younger Hammond played guitar in high school and dropped out of Antioch College in Ohio after a year to pursue music professionally. Trending Stories Kelly Osbourne Hits Back at ‘Cruelty’ Over Her Appearance at the BRIT Awards