One of the indicators of an artist’s importance to our culture lies in how – if at all – their work is picked up by subsequent generations of artists and audiences.

In honor of the birthday anniversary of Sleepy John Estes, born in Ripley, Tennessee on January 25th in 1899 (or 1900), here are five interpretations of his song, “Someday Baby Blues”, stretching over 70 years.

Sleepy John Estes and Hammie Nixon, 1935:

Big Maceo Merriweather, 1941:

Muddy Waters and The Headhunters, 1955:

The Allman Brothers, 1969:

Bob Dylan, 2006: