Chris Cain

Bluesman Chris Cain is something of a late bloomer, not cutting his first album until he was past 30 and releasing a comeback effort when he was in his early sixties. If it seemingly took the public a while to catch on, he'd long had the respect of his peers, with guitarist Joe Bonamassa citing him as one of his favorites. Cain's guitar style shows the influence of B.B. King and Albert King (both of whom were mentors), with a bite and energy that sets him apart, as well as a passionate, full-bodied vocal style that has no trouble filling a room. 1990's Cuttin' Loose was an impressive early release, his self-titled 2017 album reminded blues fans of a talent traveling under the radar, and 2021's Raisin' Cain was his debut for celebrated blues label Alligator Records. He stayed at the imprint for Good Intentions Gone Bad in 2024.