English bluesman John Mayall had a successful career in design before he pursued a full-time career in music at the age of 30. He made up for lost time, however, moving to London in 1963 and forming the legendary Bluesbreakers shortly after. As bandleader, Mayall recruited and mentored a succession of great musicians: Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and Mick Taylor, to name a few. The group's 1966 self-titled album was a major breakthrough, released at the height of the blues boom in England. In 1984, following a successful reunion tour two years prior, Mayall reformed the band with a new generation of promising talent. A gifted performer in his own right, Mayall released his 57th album, Tough, in 2009, backed by the prolific Bluesbreakers.