Does the bass guitar have a productive rule to play in blues music?

Hi. I’m learning to play bass my favorate type of music is blues music I like Howling Wolf Muddy watters and Elmore James that kind of thing . I was woundring if the bass guitar has a role to play in Blues Music(chigago kind ,chess) (since I can not think of many famous blues bassists ) and where the best place is (online) to pick up chords and tips to learn to play Blues music on my bass guitar.

Thanks