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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZWOLF, Howlin'(b Chester Arthur Burnett, 10 June '10, West Point MS; d 10 Jan. '76, Hines IL) Blues singer, guitarist, played harmonica; became a legend with his compulsively powerful performance, named after a howl of frustration and bitterness. Spent most of his time working as a farmer until '48, but also performed at juke joints etc. with Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Texas Alexander; learned harmonica from Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller). Formed band with Junior Parker and James Cotton in West Memphis '48, worked at station KWEM; Ike Turner took him to Sam Phillips at Sun Records (first tracks leased to Chess), then to RPM label; moved to Chicago '52 and stayed with Chess. Muddy Waters helped him get work there, but their rivalry later became legendary; Wolf allegedly tried to stretch out his segment at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival '69 so that Waters would not get on (but perhaps the legend helped sell records). Had several heart attacks but would not stop working; died of cancer. By the time he began recording he was too raw and powerful for the R&B charts; he was unique, combining rural roughness with urban imagery and electric sound. The only hits he had were 'How Many More Years' '51, 'Smoke Stack Lightning' '56, 'Evil' '69 (first recorded '54), all incl. in compilation Moanin' In The Moonlight (aka Evil) on Chess, combined on CD with another album called Howlin' Wolf. Cadillac Daddy on Rounder has Memphis recordings; Live At Cambridge Mass. 1966 is on Rounder; The Back Door Wolf '73, three-CD The Chess Box and many other compilations are all on Chess; London Sessions '70 with Eric Clapton etc (overdubbed in Chicago) has been on Chess and MCA. |