Howlin' Wolf facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Howlin' Wolf
Wolf performing in 1972
Born	Chester Arthur Burnett (1910-06-10)June 10, 1910 White Station, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	January 10, 1976(1976-01-10) (aged 65) Hines, Illinois, Illinois
Resting place	Oakridge Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois
Other names	Big Foot Chester, Bull Cow, John D.
Occupation	Singer musician bandleader
Years active	1930s-1976
Spouse(s)	Lillie Handley ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	2
Relatives	Skeme (great-nephew)
Awards	Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1991)
Musical career
Genres	Chicago blues rhythm and blues electric blues rock and roll
Instruments	Vocals guitar harmonica
Labels	RPM Chess

Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976), known as Howlin' Wolf, was an American blues singer and guitarist. Many people think he was one of the most important blues musicians ever. Over 40 years, he played blues, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll. He helped connect the older Delta blues style with the newer Chicago blues.

Born into a poor family in Mississippi, Chester had a tough childhood. His mother sent him away, and he lived with a great-uncle who treated him badly. He later ran away to his father's house, where he found a happy home. In the early 1930s, he learned from the famous blues musician Charley Patton. He started his own music career in the Deep South, playing with other blues artists. By the end of the 1930s, he was well-known in the Mississippi Delta.

After some tough times, including serving in the Army, he moved to Chicago, Illinois and became very successful. His recording career began in 1951 after Ike Turner heard him sing. He then formed his own band in Chicago. Five of his songs made it onto the Billboard R&B charts. He also released several albums in the 1960s and 1970s and performed on TV. His albums include The Howlin' Wolf Album (1969) and The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions (1971). His last album, The Back Door Wolf, came out in 1973. He performed for the last time in November 1975 with B.B. King. Chester Burnett passed away in 1976 after years of health problems. He was later added to the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.

Howlin' Wolf was known for his powerful voice and strong stage presence. He is one of the most famous Chicago blues artists. AllMusic called him "a primal, ferocious blues belter." Music critic Cub Koda said, "no one could match Howlin' Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down." Producer Sam Phillips felt his music showed "where the soul of man never dies." Many of his songs, like "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Killing Floor", and "Spoonful", are now blues classics. "Smokestack Lightnin'" won a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. In 2011, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 54 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".

Early Life and Nickname

Growing Up in Mississippi

Chester Arthur Burnett was born on June 10, 1910, in White Station, Mississippi. His parents were Gertrude Jones and Leon "Dock" Burnett. He was named after Chester A. Arthur, who was the 21st President of the United States.

Chester was a big person, standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing almost 300 pounds. Because of his size, he was sometimes called "Big Foot Chester" and "Bull Cow."

How He Became "Howlin' Wolf"

His famous stage name, "Howlin' Wolf," came from his grandfather, John Jones. When Chester misbehaved, his grandfather would warn him that wolves in the area would come and get him. His family then started calling him "the Wolf."

Chester's parents separated when he was just one year old. He moved with his mother to Monroe County. Chester and his mother sang in their church choir. He later said he got his musical talent from her.

When he was a child, his mother sent him away from home. He then lived with his great-uncle Will Young, who had a large family but treated Chester poorly. He worked almost all day and did not go to school. When he was thirteen, he ran away. He walked about 85 miles barefoot to find his father. There, he finally found a happy home with his father's large family. During this time, he used the name "John D." to start fresh. Years later, after he became famous, he visited his mother. She refused to take money from him, saying it was from his "devil's music."

On January 15, 1928, when he was 17, Chester saved enough money to buy his first guitar. He never forgot that day.

Musical Journey

Learning the Blues

In 1930, Chester met Charley Patton, who was the most popular blues musician in the Mississippi Delta at the time. Chester would listen to Patton play outside a nearby club every night. Soon, Patton started teaching him guitar. Chester said the first song he ever played was Patton's "Pony Blues." He also learned how to put on a show from Patton, who would spin his guitar around while playing. Chester used these tricks throughout his career.

Other blues artists also influenced Chester, like the Mississippi Sheiks, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Ma Rainey. He tried to copy the "blue yodel" of country singer Jimmie Rodgers. But Chester found his attempts sounded more like a growl or a howl. He said, "I couldn't do no yodelin', so I turned to howlin'. And it's done me just fine." His harmonica playing was inspired by Sonny Boy Williamson II, who taught him in 1933.

Throughout the 1930s, Chester performed alone and with many other blues musicians. By the end of the decade, he was a regular performer in clubs, playing harmonica and an early electric guitar.

Time in the Army

On April 9, 1941, Chester joined the U.S. Army. He was part of the 9th Cavalry Regiment, known as "Buffalo Soldiers." He was sent to different bases, including Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Camp Blanding in Jacksonville, Florida. At Camp Blanding, he cooked for soldiers during the day and played guitar at night. At Fort Gordon in Georgia, a young James Brown heard him play.

Chester was later sent to a camp in Tacoma, Washington, where he was supposed to decode messages. Because he couldn't read or write well, his drill instructor often punished him for mistakes. This led to Chester having shaking fits, dizzy spells, and confusion.

In 1943, Chester was found unfit for duty and honorably discharged from the Army. He later said, "The Army ain’t no place for a black man," and "The Wolf's his own boss."

After the Army, he returned to his family near West Memphis, Arkansas. He helped with farming and continued to perform. In 1948, he formed his own band. Radio station KWAM in West Memphis broadcast his live shows.

Becoming a Star

First Recordings and Success

In 1951, Ike Turner, a talent scout, heard Howlin' Wolf in West Memphis. Turner helped him record songs for Sam Phillips at Memphis Recording Service (later Sun Studio) and the Bihari brothers at Modern Records. Phillips loved his singing. Howlin' Wolf quickly became famous locally.

Phillips licensed Howlin' Wolf's recordings to Chess Records. His first singles, "Moanin' at Midnight"/"How Many More Years", were released by Chess in 1951. Other songs came out on Modern's RPM Records. In late 1952, Leonard Chess convinced Howlin' Wolf to move to Chicago.

In Chicago, Howlin' Wolf formed a new band. He brought in guitarist Jody Williams and later Hubert Sumlin. Sumlin's guitar playing fit perfectly with Howlin' Wolf's powerful voice. Howlin' Wolf was known for paying his musicians well and on time. This helped him attract some of the best musicians. Sumlin stayed with the band for most of Howlin' Wolf's career.

Howlin' Wolf had many hits with songs written by Willie Dixon, who worked for Chess Records. In the 1950s, five of his songs made it onto the Billboard R&B charts, including "Moanin' at Midnight" and "Smokestack Lightning". His first album, Moanin' in the Moonlight, came out in 1959.

Albums and Tours

In the early 1960s, Howlin' Wolf recorded more famous songs, many written by Willie Dixon. These included "Wang Dang Doodle", "Back Door Man", "Spoonful", and "The Red Rooster". Many of these songs were later covered by British and American rock bands, making them even more popular. His second album, Howlin' Wolf (often called "the rocking chair album"), was released in 1962.

During the blues revival of the 1950s and 1960s, black blues musicians found new young white fans. Howlin' Wolf was one of the first to benefit from this. He toured Europe in 1964. In 1965, he appeared on the TV show Shindig! because The Rolling Stones insisted. The Rolling Stones had a number one hit in the UK with their version of "Little Red Rooster."

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Howlin' Wolf recorded albums with other famous musicians. These included The Super Super Blues Band with Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters. He also recorded The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions with British rock stars like Eric Clapton and Bill Wyman.

His album The Howlin' Wolf Album had a unique cover that said, "This is Howlin' Wolf's new album. He doesn't like it." This cover may have hurt its sales.

Wolf's last album, The Back Door Wolf, came out in 1973. It was shorter than his other albums because his health was getting worse.

Final Performance

Howlin' Wolf's last public performance was in November 1975 in Chicago. He performed with other blues legends like B.B. King and Albert King. He gave an "unforgettable" show, even crawling across the stage during his song "Crawling King Snake." The audience gave him a five-minute standing ovation. After the concert, paramedics had to help him.

Musical Style and Equipment

How His Music Changed

Howlin' Wolf was very important in changing the blues. He helped turn the country blues of the South into the electric, city blues of Chicago. When he first started his band, his sound was very strong, with guitarist Willie Johnson's loud, distorted guitar. When Hubert Sumlin joined, the sound became a bit less aggressive. Sumlin added unique guitar riffs and solos. Howlin' Wolf also started using the "backbeat" rhythm, which was common in Chicago blues.

Guitars He Played

While Hubert Sumlin was his main guitarist, Howlin' Wolf played several guitars himself over the years. He played an Epiphone Casino on his European tour and a Fender Coronado. He also used a Gibson Firebird V in a 1966 video. In his early days, he played a Kay K-161 ThinTwin. This Kay guitar is now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

Personal Life

Smart with Money

Chester Burnett was very good at managing his money. He was one of the few black blues musicians of his time who drove himself from the Delta to Chicago in his own car, with $4,000 saved. Even though he couldn't read or write well until he was in his forties, he went back to school. He earned a GED diploma and studied accounting to help manage his career.

Family Life

Burnett met his wife, Lillie Handley (1925–2001), at a club in Chicago. She and her family were educated and not involved in the music world. But he was drawn to her right away and won her over. People who knew them said they were deeply in love until he passed away. They raised Lillie's two daughters, Betty and Barbara, together. The West Coast rapper Skeme is his great-nephew.

After he married Lillie, who helped him manage his money, Howlin' Wolf became very successful. He could pay his band members good salaries and even offer benefits like health insurance. This allowed him to hire the best musicians and keep his band one of the top groups around. His stepdaughters said he was never wasteful with money. For example, he drove a Pontiac station wagon instead of a fancy car.

Health Challenges and Passing

Declining Health

Howlin' Wolf's health started to get worse in the late 1960s. He had his first heart attack in 1969 while traveling to a show. Three weeks later, in Toronto, he had more heart and kidney problems. Doctors suggested surgery, but he refused, saying he needed to keep working.

In 1970, he was in a serious car accident that badly damaged his kidneys. For the rest of his life, his wife Lillie gave him dialysis treatments every three days. Later that year, his health worsened while recording in the United Kingdom. A year later, he had another heart attack, and his kidneys failed. He also developed high blood pressure. By May 1973, he was performing again, but his bandleader, Eddie Shaw, limited him to six songs per concert due to his health.

His Death

In January 1976, Chester Burnett went to the Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, Illinois, for kidney surgery. Three days before he passed away, doctors found a tumor in his brain. He died on January 10, 1976, at age 65, from the tumor, heart failure, and kidney disease. He was buried in Oakridge Cemetery outside Chicago. His gravestone has a guitar and harmonica carved into it.

Legacy and Awards

Honors and Recognition

In 1980, Howlin' Wolf was added to the Blues Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 as an early influence. In 1995, he was honored in the Hall of Fame in his hometown of West Point, Mississippi.

On September 17, 1994, the U.S. Postal Service released a postage stamp featuring Howlin' Wolf.

On September 1, 2005, the Howlin' Wolf Blues Museum opened in West Point, Mississippi. It is located at 57 E. Westbrook Street, and an annual festival is held there.

Howlin' Wolf Foundation

The Howlin' Wolf Foundation is a non-profit group started by Bettye Kelly. Its goal is to keep Howlin' Wolf's music and memory alive. The foundation supports blues music, offers scholarships for music programs, and helps blues musicians.

Awards and Nominations

In 1972, Howlin' Wolf received an honorary doctor of arts degree from Columbia College Chicago.

Grammy Hall of Fame

Howlin' Wolf's song "Smokestack Lightning" was chosen for a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. This award honors recordings that are at least 25 years old and have special "qualitative or historical significance."

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listed three songs by Howlin' Wolf in its "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll."

The Blues Foundation Awards

Inductions

Discography

Albums

• 1959: Moanin' in the Moonlight (Chess) 1951–1958 recordings
• 1962: Howlin' Wolf (Chess) 1957–1962 recordings
• 1962: Howling Wolf Sings the Blues (Crown) 1951–1952 recordings
• 1965: The Real Folk Blues (Chess) 1956–1965 recordings
• 1967: More Real Folk Blues (Chess) 1953–1956 recordings
• 1968: The Super Super Blues Band (Chess) with Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley
• 1969: The Howlin' Wolf Album (Cadet Concept)
• 1971: Message to the Young (Chess)
• 1971: The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions (Chess)
• 1972: Chester Burnett a/k/a/ Howlin' Wolf (Chess) 1951–1965 recordings
• 1972: Live and Cookin' (Chess)
• 1973: The Back Door Wolf (Chess)
• 1974: London Revisited (Chess) split album with Muddy Waters
• 1975: Change My Way (Chess) 1958–1966 recordings
• 1977: The Legendary Sun Performers (Charly)
• 1979: Heart Like Railroad Steel (Memphis & Chicago Blues 1951–57) (Blues Ball)
• 1979: Can't Put Me Out (Chicago 1956–72, Volume II) (Blues Ball)
• 1984: Muddy & the Wolf (Chess) split album with Muddy Waters
• 1984: His Greatest Sides, Volume One (Chess)
• 1991: Howlin' Wolf – The Chess Box (Chess)
• 1991: Howlin' Wolf Rides Again (Flair/Virgin)
• 1994: Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog: Chess Collectibles, Vol. 2 (Chess)
• 1997: His Best (Chess); reissued as The Definitive Collection (Geffen)

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Howlin' Wolf para niños