Grammy-Winning Blues Legend John Hammond Dies at 83
Grammy-Winning Blues Legend John Hammond Dies at 83
Ilana KaplanTue, March 3, 2026 at 4:50 PM UTC
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John Hammond in New York City in October 1990Credit: Paul Natkin/Getty -
Blues guitarist and singer John Hammond has died at the age of 83
News of his death was confirmed by Toronto blues musician Paul Smith in a Facebook post on Sunday, March 1
"The blues world has lost a giant," Smith wrote in the post
Legendary blues guitarist and singer John Hammond has died. He was 83.
In a Facebook post shared on Sunday, March 1, Toronto blues musician Paul Smith shared that Hammond's wife Marla confirmed news of his death.
"Marla Hammond called me yesterday with the heartbreaking news that my dear friend John Hammond has passed away. The blues world has lost a giant. I’ve lost my best friend. My heart goes out to Marla and the family. Rest easy, John," he wrote.
John Hammond in Topanga, Calif. in 1962Credit: Estate of Edmund Teske/Getty
Smith added: "I’ve just been going through the photos we’ve shared over the years — from the Horseshoe Tavern to Albert’s Hall, 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...."
According to a report from Billboard Canada, Hammond died of cardiac arrest.
PEOPLE has reached out to Hammond's reps for additional comment.
Known as both John P. Hammond and John Hammond Jr., the late musician was the son of producer and talent scout John Henry Hammond Jr.
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Hammond began playing guitar in high school and dropped out after studying Antioch College in Ohio after a year to pursue his professional music career.
John Hammond in December 1978 in AtlantaCredit: Tom Hill/WireImage
In 1963, he signed with Vanguard Records and his self-titled debut album featured music written by blues icons like Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Robert Johnson, as well as covers of tracks like Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene.”
John Hammond in August 2013 in Bethel, N.Y.Credit: Charles Norfleet/Getty
Throughout his career, Hammond released more than 30 albums and he even won a Grammy in 1985 won a Grammy for his work on the compilation record Blues Explosion, which was recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1982.
In the following years, Hammond received additional nominations for his 2009 album, Rough & Tough, which earned a nod for Best Traditional Blues Album.
Hammond also received Grammy nominations for albums including You Can’t Judge a Book by the Cover (1993), Trouble No More (1994), Found True Love (1996), Long As I Have You (1998), and In Your Arms Again (1995).
He was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame in 2011.
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