Muddy Waters

Father of Chicago Blues, McKinley Morganfield aka Muddy Waters was a main influence for blues musicians and rockers as well.
His electrified delta blues bursted through the Chicago scene in the early 50's and hit everyone with powerful sound, massive slide attack, soulful voice and killer macho songs.
Paradoxically my favorite album is an acoustic one: Folksinger recorded in 1964... huge primitive sound, basic playing and tremendous voice. And my favorite song Good Morning Little Schoolgirl:
 

BoomBoom

 

Mister Boogie Chillun

Crawlin' King Snake

 

John Lee Hooker

 Detroit guitarist.

Hooker rarely played on a standard beat and could change tempo and chords in such an anarchic way, making it so hard for eventual backing musicians.
He recorded many songs alone playing guitar and foot-stomping on a wooden pallet. His style influenced many rock musicians from The Animals to the MC5 or ZZ Top.
Songs such as Boom Boom or Boogie Chillen became huge hits and were covered so many times.

Besides, I really like his socks.

Blues is the roots

.. "Blues is the roots, the rest is the fruits" said Willy Dixon...such a wise man I guess... and a good synthetis of
today's american music.

Handyman for Chess records in the 50's, he acted as well as session musician, songwriter or producer and wrote many blues standards such as Little Red Rooster, My Babe or Ain't Supertitious.
He worked with the greatest from Muddy Waters to Howling Wolf and left such an imprint on modern blues.

Bedroom Blues

.. Mance Lipscomb I guess... but who was he playing for ?
Supercool blues: here's a song called "Take Me Back" (I first heard a Corey Harris's cover of this one) ...
Real soothing blues, sounds a bit like Mississippi John Hurt stuff...