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Muddy Waters is not just a Chicago bluesman, he is the 50 ’ s in Chicago. “Rollin &. Tumblin’ ’ (Cream copped from
Chicago Bluesman - he gave the music its shape and style, and this), “Louisiana Blues ” “Standing Around Crying” (one of the
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th city he worked in gave it the name. most emotional flat out, all- time blues ever recorded ... guitar,
Muddy was born McKinley Morganfield in Rolling Fork harp and vocal just wrench your guts), "40 Days and
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Mississippi on April 4, 1915. That was in the heart of delta 40 Nidus”, “Just To Be With You”, “Got My Mojo Working”
country, and delta country was blues country Muddy heard (Muddy’ s signature tune) and “Honey Bee are a few personal
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and saw both Son House and Robert Johnson (two of the favorites. These tunes range from simple guitar- harp duets to
finest around) playing nearby. full band numbers, all are powerful and moving examples of
When Muddy began playing he used harmonica, but Chicago bluesat its peak.
switched to guitar when he was 17. He listened to records of Not only did Muddy write, sing and play guitar, he also
people like Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charlie Patton and Blind trained . and gave exposure to many fine sidemcn who later
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Boy Fuller. When he began to work on his own, he patterned went out on their own. His harp players have included not
himself after his favorite, Robert Johnson and his early only Little Walter (who innovated a harp style followed
work had much of the sweet intensity that Johnson's did. by almost every blues harpist blowing today ). but also Junior
Both men played slide guitar (tuned to an open chord and Wells, Walter Horton and James Cotton. Guitar players have
fretted with a bottleneck or tubing slipped over a finger, included Buddy Guy and Pat Hare (a little known but fine
producing vocaMike guitar sounds), both had fine, tortured player who could make it smoke ),and don ’ t forget pianist Otis
falsetto vocals, and both were capable of some intense imagery Spann who was with the group till his death.
in their lyrics. There ' s more than a little truth to what Muddy As the record market changed, Chess went thru some
told Pete Welding; “Really, I think I ’ m closer to Robert than strange attempts to broaden Muddy ’ s appeal; there were
anybody that ever played - at least,all theones I’ve heard.” abortive “folk, " “brass " and even “psychedelic " albums -
Muddy worked on farms and, on weekends, played which put the man and his music thru some bad times...1
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juke joints and picnics with guitarist Scott Bohanna. (See Pete don ’ t know if his appeal was broadened much, but I know old
Welding 's liner notes on Chess 2CH- 60006). In 1941 he was fans winced.
“discovered " by folklorist Alan Lomax who was making a A few years ago Muddy was involved in a serious car crash
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collecting trip for the Library of Congress. Lomax cut several which laid him up a long time, but he came back strong as
sides with him, 2 were issued on an L of C archive 1J\ ..and ever. Chess, now under new management, seems to be showing
later the whole series, which included several tracks with a lot more sense, and many of his older singles have been
Muddy as part of the Son Simms Four (a country & blues re- released on LP. (1 especially recommend McKinley
group with guitars, fiddle and mandolin) was released on Morganfield a.k.a. Muddy Waters, a double set which included
Testament label. muc h of the best of the early sides as well as fine full- bank
In 1943 Muddy moved to Chicago, and began working recordings, all good blues.) And recent recordings have
taverns and house parties there...but the style of blues then showcased the man at what he does best — blow good solid
was “sweet " and didn’t have much to do with the feeling and Chicago Blues.(See Liveat Mr. Kellys.)
sound of down home. It was 1948 before his first commercial In the nearly 24 years that Muddy has been recording and
success was released - “Can ’ t Be Satisfied. " It was pure delta touring, he s played in clubs, dances, blues and rock festivals
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blues with just slide guitar, vocal and standup bass. around the world he’sappeared at Newport,Carnegie Hall,on
The record was a big hit in the newly emerging and rapidly network TV and on record as honored guest of younger
growing R&B field (literally. Blues with Rhythm) - and musicians whose careers he inspired (see Fathers A Sons with
showed that there was an urban market for the down home Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield and Buddy Miles). He s the
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sound. Muddy recorded several more solo records, but he was co- subject of Bossmcn. a book by Bill Rooney, and his old
already using a new touch in his club gigs - electricity. Chess records are collectors items.
Muddy had a four piece band; he played slide and sang. Little But more important, here s a man who is not only an
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Walter (the late great) was on harp, Jimmy Rogers was on innovator and creator, he ’ s a working musician who still is glad
second guitar and Leroy Foster was on drums. The sound was to get a chance to play what he knows and feels. Muddy is one
funky, loud and full - blues, but blues that stomped. As of the last survivors of a generation of bluesmen that linked
Muddy later told Welding, “What made our records different - the country to the city, that merged down- home soul with
we kept that Mississippi sound, but we didn t do it exactly like sidewalk flash, and brought electricity to poetry.
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the older fellows. We put the beat with it, put a little drive to
Call him an artist , and dig the art in his music - but let it
it...even if it ’ s the blues, we still had to drive behind it”. move you too • • • you can shake ass to it and get off behind it.
The style caught on fast around Chicago and on records, And for chrissakcs let him know how much you dig it now -
and many more Chess singles followed. (The first one to while he ’ s here to enjoy it ... posthumous fame is only good
appear on Chess was “Rollin Stone”... the same one that the for whoever holds the copyrights.
group named themselves after.) Many of the titles that Muddy As long as Muddy ’ s alive and kicking, so will the blues from
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put out were later covered by other artists- “Just Make Love down home be. Dig him while he ’s here - he s one of the last
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To Me " was one, a current favorite is the Allman Brothers giants.
Band ’s version of Muddy ’ s “Trouble No More”. Tony Glover
There were many other classic sides as well, most cut in the
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