In quotes: 'An undying legacy'

Hooker: Loved and respected by musical colleagues

The music world has reacted to the news of John Lee Hooker's death on Thursday with unanimous appreciation of the bluesman's gifts.

Blues guitarist Tony McPhee, who backed Hooker on many 1960s British tours:

"For the first tour, John Mayall was backing him but he couldn't make the last week, so we were asked. From then on we backed him every time he came over to the UK.

"He was a lovely man, he talked a lot and he use to sit in the van playing and singing.

"He spoke to us up in the Liverpool Cavern once, saying what he liked about us was that we could follow him, if he played an 11-bar blues or whatever.

"It became intuitive after a while.

"He had his own style - so primitive, that's what I liked about him, and his voice was outstanding. It made you toes curl."

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Guitarist Carlos Santana, in a statement:

"There are no superlatives to describe the profound impact John Lee left in our hearts.

"When I was a child he was the first circus I wanted to run away with.

"For musicians and common people - all of us feel enormous gratitude, respect, admiration and love for his spirit.

"Working with him on The Healer, Chill Out and also playing live on the blues festivals is something that I will deeply treasure."

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Singer Bonnie Raitt:

"John Lee's power and influence in the world of rock, R&B, jazz and blues are a legacy that will never die.

"Getting to know and work with him these last 30 years has truly been one of the great joys of my life."

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John Wooler, president of Hooker's label Point Blank:

"He just kept going. .... he wanted to keep working.

"He was planning to do a new record, but he hadn't started."

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Lead singer of hip hop band Jungle Biskit Martin Reynolds:

"John Lee Hooker was really my first introduction to jazz.

"For me as a vocalist, Hooker represented the essence of blues story telling of the black experience."

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Hooker himself was more taciturn: "People say I'm a genius but I don't know about that," he once told The Times.