Howlin’ Wolf: Architect of Electric Chicago Blues
Chester Arthur Burnett (10 June 1910 – 10 January 1976) was an American blues singer, guitarist, and harmonica player. He transformed acoustic Delta blues into electric Chicago blues and is regarded as one of the most influential blues musicians ever.
Early Life and Education
Burnett was born in White Station, near West Point, Mississippi, to Gertrude Jones and Leon “Dock” Burnett. His father claimed Ethiopian heritage while his mother had Choctaw ancestry. He was named after Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the United States. The nickname “Howlin’ Wolf” originated from his maternal grandfather, John Jones, who used it as a threat when young Burnett was squeezing his grandmother’s chickens too hard.
His parents separated when he was a year old. His mother kicked him out of the house during winter when he was a child. At age thirteen, after killing one of his great uncle Will Young’s hogs in anger, he was whipped and chased on a mule. He then ran away, walking what he claimed was 85 miles barefoot to rejoin his father in the Mississippi Delta. As a young man, his imposing physique—6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 275 pounds—earned him the nicknames “Big Foot Chester” and “Bull Cow.”
Career and Achievements
On January 15, 1928, at age seventeen, Burnett bought his first guitar, a date he reportedly never forgot. In 1930, he met Charley Patton, the most popular bluesman in the Mississippi Delta, and became his protégé. Burnett learned guitar and showmanship from Patton, including the trick of playing the instrument backwards, forwards, and over his shoulders. He was also influenced by the Mississippi Sheiks, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Ma Rainey, Lonnie Johnson, Tampa Red, Blind Blake, and Tommy Johnson.
By the end of the 1930s, Burnett had established himself in the Mississippi Delta as a solo performer. Following legal troubles, a prison stint, and Army service, he was recruited by A&R man Ike Turner to record for producer Sam Phillips in Memphis. His first record, “Moanin’ at Midnight,” was released in 1951 and led to a record deal with Chess Records in Chicago.
Between 1951 and 1969, six of his songs reached the Billboard R&B chart. His studio albums included Howlin’ Wolf a.k.a. The Rocking Chair Album (a collection of singles from 1957 to 1961), The Howlin’ Wolf Album (1969), Message to the Young (1971), The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions (1971), and The Back Door Wolf (1973). His reputation grew throughout the blues revival of the 1960s. He continued performing until November 1975, when he performed for the last time alongside fellow blues musician B.B. King.
Notable Events and Milestones
“Moanin’ at Midnight” in 1951 marked his entry into professional recording and launched his career with Chess Records. Several of his songs became blues and blues rock standards. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listed “Little Red Rooster,” “Smokestack Lightning,” “Killing Floor,” and “Spoonful” in its “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.” “Smokestack Lightning” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
Awards and Honors
In 1980, Howlin’ Wolf was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. In 1991, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2011, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 54 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.”
Additional Resources
Howlin’ Wolf’s influence on blues and rock music remains substantial, with his distinctive sandpaper growl and commanding presence defining an era of American music. Readers seeking deeper exploration of his life, recordings, and cultural impact can find comprehensive information through Wikipedia and other blues music archives and historical databases.
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