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.
I Have A Little Girl
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, I got a little girl, only eighteen years old
Yes, I love my baby, to my heart and soul
I love the way she kiss, she loves me all the time
I love the way she kiss, she loves me all the time
You know I can't help it, I can't get her off of my mind
Yes, I got a little girl, just only eighteen years old
I love my baby, to her heart and soul
She's got great big pretty legs, teeth that shine like pearls
She's got great big pretty legs, teeth just shine like pearls
Well, if you see her shake, man, it's out of this world
The lyrics to Howlin' Wolf's "I Have a Little Girl" tell the story of the singer's love for his young girlfriend. He proclaims his love for her repeatedly throughout the song, stating that he loves her to his heart and soul. He also praises her physical attributes, such as her big legs and shiny teeth, and speaks of the way she kisses and loves him all the time. Despite the song's relatively simple structure and subject matter, the passion that the Wolf puts into his performance and the soulful backing music create an incredibly effective and memorable tribute to young love.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, I got a little girl, only eighteen years old
The singer is in a romantic relationship with a young, eighteen-year-old girl.
Yes, I love my baby, to my heart and soul
The singer is deeply in love with his young girlfriend.
I love the way she kiss, she loves me all the time
The singer enjoys the way his girlfriend passionately kisses him and how she loves him consistently.
You know I can't help it, I can't get her off of my mind
The singer admits to constantly thinking about his girlfriend and not being able to stop.
She's got great big pretty legs, teeth that shine like pearls
The singer describes his girlfriend's impressive physical features such as her big, beautiful legs and her shining teeth.
Well, if you see her shake, man, it's out of this world
The singer notes that his girlfriend's dancing skills are extraordinary and beyond this world.
Contributed by Eli L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.