Elmore James was an influential American blues guitarist and vocalist, known for his slide guitar work and emotive singing style. Active from the 1940s until his death in 1963, James's distinctive sound, characterized by his impassioned, raw vocal delivery and his use of a heavily amplified hollow-body guitar, significantly shaped the blues genre. His interpretation of Robert Johnson's "Dust My Broom" became his signature song, and his work has influenced many rock and blues musicians. James's contribution to music history is significant, as he is often credited with bridging the gap between early rural blues and the later, electrified urban blues sound.