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.
26. I Ain't Superstitious
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
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Well, I ain't superstitious, but a black cat just crossed my trail
Don't sweep me with no broom, I might get put in jail
When my right hand itches, I gets money for sure
When my right hand itches, I gets money for sure
But when my left eye jumps, somebody's got to go
Well, I ain't superstitious, black cat just crossed my trail
Don't sweep me with no broom, I just might get put in jail
Well, the dogs are howlin', all over the neighborhood
Whoa, the dogs are howlin', all over the neighborhood
That is true sign of death, baby, that ain't no good
Well, I'm not superstitious, but a black cat up n' cross my trail
Well, I'm not superstitious, a black cat up n' cross my trail
Don't sweep me with no broom, I just might get put in jail
Bad luck for me
We can see right away that "I Ain't Superstitious" is a song about superstitions. Howlin' Wolf begins by saying that he isn't superstitious, yet he mentions that a black cat just crossed his path, which is believed by many to be a sign of bad luck. He goes on to say that if someone sweeps him with a broom, he might get put in jail. This is a superstition that claims if someone sweeps you with a broom, it will bring bad luck or misfortune upon you. Wolf seems to be aware of these superstitions and wants no part in them.
Next, he describes his own superstitions, like how when his right hand itches, he's sure to get money. This is a common superstition that people believe in many parts of the world. On the other hand, when his left eye jumps, somebody's got to go. This is another superstition that claims when your eye twitches, it's a sign of either good or bad things to come. For Wolf, it means bad things are coming.
Finally, he references the howling dogs in the neighborhood as a true sign of death. This again is a common superstition that many people believe in different cultures. Overall, the song is a commentary on the power of superstitions and how they can impact people's daily lives, whether they believe in them or not.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Willie Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind