John Mayall is the pre-eminent British bluesman. Mayall has led many incarnations of his Bluesbreakers, beginning in the mid-60's with a young country recluse named Eric Clapton. He continues to record and tour today. The British had a unique perspective on the blues -- they considered it a true art form, whereas in America, the blues had often been relegated to "race" records and radio stations. The British blues invasion caused Americans to reevaluate the real value and status of the blues.