|
|
Chester Arthur "Howlin Wolf"
Burnett
Jazz and Blues
Scott #2860
September 17, 1994 in Greenville, MS
Designed by Julian Allen
|
Chester Arthur Burnett was born on a plantation
near West Point, Mississippi on June 10, 1910. His family moved to another
plantation near Ruleville, Mississippi in 1923. Chester was exposed to music
from the nearby churches in early childhood but did not take up the guitar
until he was 18 years old. He was introduced to Charlie Patton, a local
Bluesman, about this time, who taught Chester the Delta Blues style of guitar.
Chester continued to farm with his family,
playing occasionally for local parties until 1933, when his family moved to
Parkin, Arkansas. In Parkin, Sonny Boy Williamson, who was married to
Chester's sister, taught him to play the harmonica. Chester quit farming and
went on the road with Williamson and other blues artists such as Robert
Johnson.
Chester was drafted during World War II by the
U.S. Army and after he returned from the war he settled in West Memphis,
Arkansas. He worked there as a DJ on a local radio station, KWEM and also
started his own band. Chester first began calling himself Howling Wolf while
working for KWEM.
Howling Wolf was first recorded by Sam Phillips
in 1950, (later the owner of Sun Records). Phillips sold the recording to
Chess records. Howling Wolf signed with Chess and teamed with Willie Dixon who
wrote many of his songs. Dixon also wrote for Muddy Waters. Howling and Muddy
became fierce rivals, each trying to outdo the other with the intensity and
rawness of their style. In the 1950's if you talked about the Chicago Blues
you were talking Muddy and Howling.
Howling Wolf's style was a mixture of gravelly
voice, high pitched howls, furious harmonica, and body gyrations. He weighed
over 300 pounds and stood six and a half feet tall. His stage presence was
both commanding and riveting.
Howling Wolf remained prominent during the wane
in popularity of Blues music and during the early 1960s he played with such
groups as the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds. In the late 1960s he recorded
the London Howling Wolf Sessions with Eric Clapton, and Ringo
Starr.
Howling had a heart attack and was involved in
a car wreck in the early 1970s and was forced to cut down on his performances.
His last performance was in 1975 with B.B. King.
Howling had suffered severe kidney damage
during the car accident and on January 10, 1976, he finally succumbed to his
chronic kidney problems and passed away in Hines, Illinois.
Howling Wolf was inducted into the Blues
Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
Sources:
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia
Africana
Atlanta
Music Group (AMG)
|
