Best blues guitarist in the UK! John Mizarolli was endorsed by Big Joe Turner. The late great Big Joe Turner served as bassist for BB King for 5 years and did 2 years with the blues legend Albert King. Albert King was a great blues guitar hero for Joe. Joe also worked with Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Ike Turner, John Lee Hooker and most of the blues legends.

 

 

 

 

Legendary blues singer John L Watson, who was originally from Mississippi, supported John Mayall around the turn of the millenium performing Songs co-written by Mizarolli and himself. John L Watson is down in the blues hall of fame with Big Joe Turner. As a matter of fact, both legendary performers by the name of Big Joe Turner are down in the blues history books. Big Joe Turner categorically rated John Mizarolli as the best blues guitarist in the Uk.

 

By pure coincidence when blues guitarist John Mizarolli was in California gigging around 1975, he was asked to guest as a guitarist with the original Big Joe Turner who was a blues singer and is well known among blues fans. John was only 22 at the time and on the same night played with Big Joe Turner and the infamous 60's band Canned Heat - a great acolade for John. Mizarolli also met one of BB Kings drummers in Alaska whilst gigging who educated him into black styles of rhythm in blues. In his travels John gigged with T-Bone Walkers drummer in Canada with The Platters.

 

 

 

 

In 1978 Mizarolli returned to the UK and was introduced to John L Watson. The chemistry was so good between them they recorded a historic blues album called A Long Way From Mississippi featuring John Clarke on drums, Tony Ciniglio on bass who worked with The Cafe Racers with Mark Knopfler and Simon Davies on keyboards. It was historic because Mizarolli introduced Gypsy, Indian and Greek influences into a black blues idiom - a first in blues guitar history.

 

 

 

John L Watson eventually introduced Mizarolli to Big Joe Turner who immediately proceeded to record his debut album Memphis Blues Caravan, a hint to Mizarolli's gypsy background. This album actually won British Blues Album of the Year Award, but the acolade was taken away because Joe used a drum machine!?!?! The album sold all over the world and was played frequently on The Paul Jones Radio Show, a leading British Blues Radio Programme.

 

 

 

John and Joe continued a 12 year musical blues relationship during which time they gigged and recorded 3 more albums. Big Joe Turner produced Mizarolli's debut blues album by the name of Blues Gypsy, which John released on his own Music of the Spheres record label. Big Joe Turner rated John as the best british blues guitarist in the UK, a grand endorsement despite UK record company and industry ignoring the achievement.