On January 1976, Chester Arthur Burnett aka Howlin’ Wolf died aged 65. He was musician (guitar, harmonica), singer, and songwriter, one of best known Chicago blues artists. Some of his songs have like “Spoonful”, “Smokestack Lightnin’”, and “Killing Floor”, become standards, and have been recorded and performed by many blues and rock musicians. In 2011, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked Wolf at number 54 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. As a leader he released 22 albums.
Tag Archives: Chicago blues
Koko Taylor
On June 3, 2009, Cora Walton aka Koko Taylor died aged 80. She was blues singer, known by powerful and rough vocal, performing rhythm and blues, Chicago Blues and blues. Often called “The Queen of Blues”, for her work she received number of awards including:
- In 1985, Grammy Awardfor Best Traditional Blues Album
- In 1996, Howlin’ Wolf Award
- In 1997, inducted in the Blues Hall of Fame
- In 1999, Blues Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award
- In 2004, NEA National Heritage Fellowship
- 24 times the Blues Music Award in the following categories:
- Female Artist
- Traditional Blues Female Artist
- Vocalist of the Year
- Contemporary Blues Female Artist
- Entertainer of the Year
Bo Diddley
On June 2, 2008, Ellas Otha Bates aka Bo Diddley, died aged 79. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter and music producer, played important role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. His original syncopated beat – three strokes /rest/ two strokes, became the core rhythm of rock ’n’ roll. His style influenced big number of music acts including The Animals, Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Parliament Funkadelic, The Velvet Underground, The Who, The Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, and The Beatles.
Muddy Waters
On April 30, 1983, McKinley Morganfield aka Muddy Waters died aged 70. He was musician (guitar), singer and somgwriter, named the “Father of modern Chicago Blues”. Waters wrote few classic standards including “I just want to make love to you”, “I’m your Hoochie Coochie Man”, “Got my Mojo working” and had a major influence on many artists including Cream, Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin. The Rolling Stones named themselves after Waters’ 1950 song “Rollin’ Stone”.
Willie Dixon
On January 29, 1992, William James “Willie” Dixon died aged 72. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer, “Grammy Award” winner ,next to Muddy Waters recognized as the most influential person in shaping the post-World War II sound of the Chicago blues. His songs were recorded by countless number of musicians such as Bob Dylan, Cream, Jeff Beck, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Some of his best known songs are “Hoochie Coochie Man”, “I Just Want to Make Love to You”, “Little Red Rooster”, “My Babe”, “Spoonful”, and “You Can’t Judge a Book by the Cover”.
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