Howlin' Wolf
Back to the Biographies
Chester Arthur Burnett "Howlin' Wolf"
(June 10, 1910 - January 10, 1976)
Howlin' Wolf worked most of his life living the life of most
delta residents: tending the fields. He was born and raised
in Mississippi, and aquired his interesting nickname early,
though it's origins are somewhat murky.
The Wolf
Wolf learned to play guitar straight from two of the tried
and true Blues originals, Charley Patton and Willie Brown.
Charley had a huge stage presence, the likes of which
would later be at least partially incorporated by Wolf.
Sonny Boy Williamson (II),
highly regarded as one of the absolute greatest Blues harp players
of all time, taught Howlin' Wolf the harmonica. He played Blues
and he farmed, but he was anxious to cut a record, like so many
of his piers. So he formed a band, and among the band members
were several future Blues greats, including Matt "Guitar" Murphy,
Junior Parker, and Hubert Sumlin.
As Wolf was nearing middle age, he was heard in 1951 by none
other than Ike Turner, who sent him to the famous
Sun Records.
There, Wolf cut two sides, "Moanin' at Midnight" and "How Many
More Years". Sun leased the recordings to Chess Records, who
distributed them, and Howlin' Wolf packed his things and
moved to Chicago to play for Chess. There, he quickly developed
a rivalry with Chess's biggest star,
Muddy Waters
and quickly grew to be the Chicago electric Blues giant that he
always was. Legendary Blues composer
Willie Dixon
wrote a number of hits for Wolf, but his most timeless works came
from his own writing, including "Killing Floor" and "Smokestack Lightnin'".
He stood towering, an imposing figure well over six feet with a well built frame.
He used this prominently in his stage act, moaning, howling, and letting
the music take over his actions, creating a unique and endearing
quality to his shows. He quickly became a major success at Chess, and
extensively toured and recorded for years, even when his health declined.
He toured, sang and played up until his death from Kidney Failure in
1976. Four years later he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, and
fifteen years after that he was an honored inductee into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame.
Notable songs by Howlin' Wolf
Smokestack Lightnin'
I Asked for Water (She gave Me Gasoline)
Killing Floor
Notable Movies on Howlin' Wolf
Cadillac Records (2008)
Notable Website son Howlin' Wolf
The Unofficial Howlin' Wolf Website
