Muddy Waters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muddy Waters
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Muddy Waters with James Cotton, 1978
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | McKinley Morganfield |
| Born | April 4, 1913 Issaquena County, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | April 30, 1983 (aged 70) Westmont, Illinois |
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| Years active | 1941–1982 |
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Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield, April 4, 1913 – April 30, 1983) was an American blues musician. He is known as "the Father of Chicago blues" because he helped create this style of music. Many people think Muddy Waters was one of the greatest blues musicians ever. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine listed him as #17 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. He was also the father of another blues musician, Big Bill Morganfield.
Contents
The Life of Muddy Waters
Growing Up and Finding Music
Muddy Waters was born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. He got his famous nickname "Muddy Waters" from his sister because he loved to play in a muddy creek near his home. After his mother died, he grew up with his grandmother in Clarksdale.
He learned to play the harp (which is another name for a harmonica) and later the guitar. He often played music with other musicians at parties and in small clubs called "juke joints." While working as a tractor driver on a farm called the Stovall plantation, a man named Alan Lomax recorded his music for the Library of Congress. Two of these early songs, Country Blues and I Be's Troubled, were later released in 1993.
Moving to Chicago and Going Electric
In 1943, Muddy Waters moved north to Chicago, just like many other musicians from the Mississippi Delta region. He worked in a paper mill and also played music, slowly becoming well-known. The clubs in Chicago were often very noisy and crowded. To make his music louder than the audience, he switched from an acoustic guitar to an electric guitar. This was a big change for blues music!
By 1948, he started recording for bigger record labels. His songs I Can't Be Satisfied and I Feel Like Going Home became very popular in the Chicago area. With his own band, he had many hits in the early 1950s, including Louisiana Blues (1951), Long Distance Call (1951), Still A Fool (1951), and She Moves Me (1952).
Becoming the King of Chicago Blues
The 1950s were a very successful time for Muddy Waters. He became known as the "King of the Chicago Blues." Many musicians who played in his band later became famous blues stars themselves. Some of these included Otis Spann, Little Walter, and James Cotton. A talented bass player and producer named Willie Dixon wrote many of Muddy Waters' hit songs during this time.
Muddy Waters also started playing outside the USA. In 1958, he performed concerts in Great Britain. In 1960, he played at the Newport Jazz Festival. This was one of the first times many white audiences had the chance to hear his amazing music live.
Later Years and Lasting Impact
Even though the 1960s were not as good for his record sales, white audiences, especially in Europe, really started to discover his music. A famous band from London, The Rolling Stones, even named themselves after one of his songs! This shows how important he was to young musicians.
In the 1970s, Muddy Waters became even more famous for his live shows. He played at big music festivals like the Montreux Jazz Festival. His albums were also highly praised, especially "Hard Again," which was produced by the guitarist Johnny Winter.
Muddy Waters passed away peacefully in his sleep from heart failure on April 30, 1983, at his home in Westmont, Illinois.
His Amazing Influence
Muddy Waters had a huge impact on music. Unlike other guitarists, he used simple but powerful guitar riffs (short, repeated musical phrases). This style became a model for many guitarists who came after him.
Many of his songs were covered by other famous musicians. His music has also been used in movies, especially in films by his long-time fan Martin Scorsese, such as The Color of Money and Goodfellas. You might even hear his songs in commercials!
Awards and Honors
Muddy Waters received many awards and honors throughout his career and even after his death.
Grammy Awards
Muddy Waters won six Grammy Awards for "Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording":
- 1971: They Call Me Muddy Waters
- 1972: The London Muddy Waters Session
- 1975: The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album
- 1977: Hard Again
- 1978: I'm Ready
- 1979: Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognized four of Muddy Waters' songs as being among the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll":
- "Rollin' Stone" (recorded 1950)
- "... Man" (recorded 1954)
- "Mannish Boy" (recorded 1955)
- "Got My Mojo Working" (recorded 1957)
He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
Other Recognitions
- 1980: Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame
- 1992: Received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1994: The U.S. Postal Service released a 29-cent commemorative stamp featuring his photo.
- He also won several Blues Music Awards for his albums.
Images for kids
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Waters performing in 1976
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The cemetery plot of Waters under his real name, McKinley Morganfield, in Restvale Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois
See also
In Spanish: Muddy Waters para niños
