Illustrator William Stout Draws 100 Blues Legends

In 1980, the cartoonist R. Crumb released Heroes of the Blues, a set of beautiful, illustrated trading cards that catalogs 36 of the greatest bluesmen ever. Now, a new book by writer and illustrator William Stout, Legends of the Blues, pays tribute to Crumb with drawings of even more heroes. Stout, who researched the book meticulously, included drawings and one page biographies of artists like Robert Johnson, Howlin’ Wolf, and Sonny Boy Williamson — some of his favorite musicians. "It's just the greatest music ever produced," Stout says. "And it's completely American."

See what else Stout has to say about the blues in the slideshow below.