Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 in White Station, Mississippi, Unite… Read Full Bio ↴Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 in White Station, Mississippi, United States – January 10, 1976 in Hines, Illinois, United States), known as Howlin' Wolf, was an influential American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player.
With a booming voice and looming physical presence, Burnett is commonly ranked among the leading performers in electric blues; musician and critic Cub Koda declared, "no one could match Howlin' Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits." A number of songs written or popularized by Burnett—such as "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Back Door Man", "Killing Floor" and "Spoonful"—have become blues and blues rock standards.
At 6 feet, 6 inches (198 cm) and close to 300 pounds (136 kg), he was an imposing presence with one of the loudest and most memorable voices of all the "classic" 1950s Chicago blues singers. This rough-edged, slightly fearsome musical style is often contrasted with the less crude but still powerful presentation of his contemporary and professional rival, Muddy Waters. Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), Little Walter Jacobs, and Muddy Waters are usually regarded in retrospect as the greatest blues artists who recorded for Chess in Chicago. Sam Phillips once remarked, "When I heard Howlin' Wolf, I said, 'This is for me. This is where the soul of man never dies.'" In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him #51 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Burnett died at Hines VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois on January 10, 1976 and was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Hillside, Cook County, Illinois in a plot in Section 18, on the east side of the road. His large gravestone, allegedly purchased by Eric Clapton, has an image of a guitar and harmonica etched into it.
The Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival is held each year in West Point, Mississippi. Wolf's Juke Joint Jam is another annual Howlin' Wolf tribute festival held in West Point. Some of the artists who have played 'Wolf Jam' include Wolf's lead guitarist Hubert Sumlin, Muddy Waters' back band of Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones and "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin, Willie King, Blind Mississippi Morris, Kenny Brown, Burnside Exploration, etc. The festival is held at the 500-acre (2.0 km2) festival grounds known as Waverly Waters Resort.
A popular music venue in New Orleans, Louisiana was named The Howlin' Wolf when it opened in 1988.
Burnett was portrayed by Eamonn Walker in the 2008 motion picture Cadillac Records.
With a booming voice and looming physical presence, Burnett is commonly ranked among the leading performers in electric blues; musician and critic Cub Koda declared, "no one could match Howlin' Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits." A number of songs written or popularized by Burnett—such as "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Back Door Man", "Killing Floor" and "Spoonful"—have become blues and blues rock standards.
At 6 feet, 6 inches (198 cm) and close to 300 pounds (136 kg), he was an imposing presence with one of the loudest and most memorable voices of all the "classic" 1950s Chicago blues singers. This rough-edged, slightly fearsome musical style is often contrasted with the less crude but still powerful presentation of his contemporary and professional rival, Muddy Waters. Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), Little Walter Jacobs, and Muddy Waters are usually regarded in retrospect as the greatest blues artists who recorded for Chess in Chicago. Sam Phillips once remarked, "When I heard Howlin' Wolf, I said, 'This is for me. This is where the soul of man never dies.'" In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him #51 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Burnett died at Hines VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois on January 10, 1976 and was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Hillside, Cook County, Illinois in a plot in Section 18, on the east side of the road. His large gravestone, allegedly purchased by Eric Clapton, has an image of a guitar and harmonica etched into it.
The Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival is held each year in West Point, Mississippi. Wolf's Juke Joint Jam is another annual Howlin' Wolf tribute festival held in West Point. Some of the artists who have played 'Wolf Jam' include Wolf's lead guitarist Hubert Sumlin, Muddy Waters' back band of Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones and "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin, Willie King, Blind Mississippi Morris, Kenny Brown, Burnside Exploration, etc. The festival is held at the 500-acre (2.0 km2) festival grounds known as Waverly Waters Resort.
A popular music venue in New Orleans, Louisiana was named The Howlin' Wolf when it opened in 1988.
Burnett was portrayed by Eamonn Walker in the 2008 motion picture Cadillac Records.
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The Howlin' Wolf Anthology
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Back Door Man I am, a back door man I am, a back door…
Build for Comfort Some folk built like this, some folk built like that But…
Change My Way I'm got to change my way of livin', this life…
Do the Do Well I know I've got a babe And I know her Love is…
Down In The Bottom Well now, baby meet me in the bottom, bring me…
Goin' Down Slow (speaks) Man, you know I've enjoyed things that kings and qu…
Going Back Home First I planned to stay but I can't live this…
Hidden Charms Her lips are sweet, her legs are big Her looks can…
Howlin' Blues I'm gonna leave you, I'm goin' away I'm gonna leave, I'll…
Howlin' for My Baby They call me the howlin' wolf now, and you found…
I Ain't Superstitious Well, I ain't superstitious, black cat just crossed my trail…
I Asked for Water (She Gave Me Gasoline) Oh, I asked her for water, she brought me gasoline. Oh,…
I Better Go Now I better go now I better go now baby I better go…
I Didn't Know I didn't know, you was out last night baby No I…
I'm Leavin' You Well maybe in the mornin', I don't know Baby don't know,…
I've Been Abused All my life, I've caught it hard All of my life,…
Killing Floor I should have quit you, a long time ago I should…
Little Baby You'll go and I'll come with you little baby You'll go…
Louise Louise, sweetest girl I know Louise, sure the sweetest girl …
Love Me Darlin' Woh tell me darlin', may I have a talk with…
Moaning For My Baby Pretty baby, come on home, I love you If you hear…
Mr. Airplane Man Mr. Airplane man, will you fly down to Jackson for…
My Country Sugar Mama Now just tell me sugar mama, where in the world…
My Life If you hear me howlin', calling on my darlin' She's hot…
Nature Ah that is nature, won't let me treat you right Ah…
Ooh Baby Hold Me When you squeeze me baby, you make me holler whoa,…
Poor Boy I'm a poor boy, I'm a long way from home I'm…
Shake for Me Sure look good, but it don't mean a thing to…
Sitting On Top Of The World One summer day She went away She gone an left me She gone…
Smokestack Lightnin' Ah oh, smokestack lightnin' Shinin', just like gold Why don'…
Somebody in My Home Here in my home Hold on, brother hold on The road is…
Spoonful It could be a spoonful of diamond Could be a spoonful…
Tail Dragger I'm a tail dragger I wipe out my track When I get…
Tell Me Tell me, what in the world can be wrong Tell me,…
Tell Me What I've Done Oh you said I hurt your feelings, but you won't…
The Back Door Wolf I am a back door man I am a back door…
The Natchez Burnin' Did you ever hear about the burning, that happened way down…
The Red Rooster I have a little red rooster Too lazy to crow for…
Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy Well, all you girls think the days are gone You don't…
Wang Dang Doodle Tell Automatic Slim , tell Razor-Totin' Jim Tell Butcher Kni…
Who's Been Talkin' My baby caught the train, left me all alone My baby…
You Can't Be Beat Now go to sleep, go to sleep Go to sleep little…
You Gonna Wreck My Life How many more years, are you gonna wreck my life How…
You'll Be Mine You so sweet, you so fine, How I wish, you was…