Chester Arthur Burnett, aka Howlin’ Wolf has been gone for 35 years now (January 10, 1976), but his legacy is larger than the Mississippi farm boy could have ever imagined. The 6’6” 300 pound man had a portentous presence when he entered the room, and with his booming voice he made the crowd a bit anxious, but when the electric bluesman began to do his thing, people forgot about his size. Wolf could rock the house down, and the crowd was at his mercy. When he was on stage playing his guitar, he would turn it over backwards and forwards, and throw it around over his shoulders, between his legs, and get the crowd to roaring. He was a performer at every opportunity with his memorable voice, and hard-drivin’ harp, entertaining seemed effortless for the gentle giant and if you throw in a few guitar tricks you got‘em howlin’ with you.
Burnett, got his nick name from trying to yodel. He wanted to emulate Jimmie Rodgers, whom he admired in the thirty's, but his yodelin’ was more like howlin’ so he just started howlin’, and it did him well. A frugal man, he didn’t spend his money on drugs, alcohol or women. He drove his own car to gigs,(station wagon) nothing fancy, although he could have afforded one at the time. He was one of the few entertainers who could afford to pay his band and provide benefits like insurance for them. Making him a desirable employer and enabling him to have his pick of musicians. Hubert Sumlin his guitarist was with him until the end, and is credited for the Howlin’ Wolf sound.
Howlin’ Wolf has garnered many accolades before and after his death. The Blues Foundation, awarded him The best album Vintage or Reissue Blues Album—US or Foreign in 1992 for THE CHESS BOX, out now the Complete Chess Masters. Howlin Wolf is a Grammy Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Blues Foundation, and Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame inductee. He has 16 albums, plus various collaborations. The man of integrity, is a legend whose music is still played today by the worlds best musicians. While he was not as polished as some of the greats he is an institution in the Blues Rock world forever.
Smokestack Lighting 1964
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1FK620bS7A
Killing Floor 1970
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvw7VGBWU8w&feature=related
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