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.
Louise
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Louise, sure the sweetest girl I know
Come all the way from St. Louis, way down to the gulf of Mexico
Louise, baby you better hurry home
Louise, you better hurry home
Somebody fishin' in your pond, Louise since you been gone
Louise, Louise come on home
Louise, Louise come on home
In Howlin' Wolf's song "Louise," the singer is calling out to the eponymous woman, whom he describes as the sweetest girl he knows. He tells her to hurry home because someone has been fishing in her pond since she's been away. The line "they catchin' your precious, and then grindin' up the bone" suggests that someone has been taking advantage of Louise's absence, perhaps by stealing or using her property for their own benefit.
However, there may be a deeper meaning to the song. Some have interpreted the fish in the pond as a metaphor for Louise's suitors, and the grinding of the bone as a metaphor for their sexual desires. Thus, the song may be a warning to Louise to be careful of those who would take advantage of her, particularly sexually.
Line by Line Meaning
Louise, sweetest girl I know
Addressing his lover, Howlin' Wolf tells her that she is the sweetest girl that he knows.
Louise, sure the sweetest girl I know
Reiterating the point made in the previous line, Howlin' Wolf reaffirms that his lover, Louise, is undoubtedly the sweetest girl he knows.
Come all the way from St. Louis, way down to the gulf of Mexico
Acknowledging the distance that Louise has traveled to be with him, Howlin' Wolf describes how she has journeyed from St. Louis down to the gulf of Mexico.
Louise, baby you better hurry home
Expressing concern for his lover's safety, Howlin' Wolf urges Louise to return to him quickly.
Louise, you better hurry home
Repeating himself for emphasis, Howlin' Wolf once again implores Louise to return home quickly.
Somebody fishin' in your pond, Louise since you been gone
Informing Louise of what's been happening while she's been away, Howlin' Wolf tells her that someone has been fishing in her pond.
Louise, Louise come on home
Using repetition, Howlin' Wolf once again beseeches Louise to come back home.
They catchin' your precious, and then grindin' up the bone
Conveying the severity of the situation, Howlin' Wolf warns Louise that someone is not only fishing in her pond but also catching and grinding up her precious belongings.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHESTER BURNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anthony Monaghan
That guitar really ties this song together. Hubert Sumlin was a true master. I could listen to these two men until the end of times.
Arthur Edelson
wolf mentored him musically as well
MNencourager
When Hubert Sumlin died, mick jagger called the funeral parlor and paid the bill. A lot of rock and roll guitar comes from Huberts style.
aviad eshel
the guitarist in this song and session is actually buddy guy. hubert is amazing but the style is completly diffrent
Pádraig Aoibheann
This is music, talent, no empty spaces, wall to wall music. Spell binding.
John Harrington
Every note just rips, the tone is the envy of the worlds greatest blues players, not one blues guitar player, not one, would say otherwise. Bloomfield, Clapton, Hendrix and on and on....The tone of that guitar and amp, coupled with his technique is absolutely bad ass.
Peter K
Incredible guitar playing.....every single note....the Wolf's sound, and Huberts guitar, perfection!!!!
Akimbo Slice
Hubert Sumlin never got the true recognition he deserved! Have you seen the documentary "Sideman"? It has Pinetop Perkins, Willie Big Eyes Smith and Hubert in it and they discuss being a side musician. It kills me Hubert talks about how after Wolf passed away everyone told him you're not going to be anything and you're done since Wolf is done.
Dwayne Johnson
I love the music of Howlin Wolf
Kenya Nkhrumah
One Of The Greatest Artists Who Ever Walked. My Namesake, King Chester Arthur Burnett AKA Howlin' Wolf. Rock N Roll would Not Exist Without The Chess Artists"Chuck, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson, Willie Dixon. Little Walter, Etc...