John Weldon JJ Cale was an influential American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, recognized as a key creator of the Tulsa sound, which blends blues, rockabilly, country, and jazz. Though he preferred to stay out of the spotlight, his laid-back style inspired major artists including Neil Young, Mark Knopfler, Waylon Jennings, and Eric Clapton. Cale's collaboration with Clapton earned them a Grammy Award for their album The Road to Escondido in 2008.