Son House

USA, 1927–1988

Mississippi Delta blues singer and guitarist, also a preacher, who alternated between the two callings. His slide playing and shouted, field-holler vocal delivery were a direct model for Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson.

MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced Son House and 6 artists Son House influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Son House?

• Charley Patton — Son House absorbed the Delta blues style playing alongside Patton.

Which artists did Son House influence?

• Robert Johnson — Son House personally watched the young Johnson develop and recalled it in interviews.
• Muddy Waters — Muddy Waters called Son House his most important teacher.
• Captain Beefheart — Son House's Delta blues was among the earliest music Van Vliet absorbed.
• Bonnie Raitt — The Delta bottleneck of Son House was central to the slide-guitar style Raitt built her sound on.
• The White Stripes — Son House was Jack White's deepest musical love: the White Stripes' debut was dedicated to him, they covered his 'Death Letter', and White has called House's a cappella 'Grinnin' in Your Face' his favourite song of all time.
• Lynyrd Skynyrd — One of the core blues influences Gary Rossington named, the Delta end of Skynyrd's guitar sound.