Chester Burnett (a.k.a. Howlin' Wolf) did not start off as a musician, he followed his father footsteps and became a farmer. When he was 18 years old he met bluesman Charlie Patton and his life changes. He learned to play the blues from a master. He picked up his harmonica style from Aleck "Rice" Miller who married his half-sister. In the 1930s he started playing regularly. After moving around quite a bit and serving four years in the army he settled in West Memphis, AK in 1948. Here he established himself as a radio personality on KWEM. In 1951 he stated recording for Memphis Recording Service and had many hits on the R&B charts. In 1953 he made moved to Chicago where his music progressed from aggressive Memphis to backbeat Chicago. He became a top attraction in Chicago and on the road. He performed and recorded regularly until his death. In 1980 he was elected into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and in 1991 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Discography: The Real Folk Blues. 1963, MCA/Chess. More Real Folk Blues. 1968, MCA/Chess. Memphis Days. 1989, Bear Family. Howlin' Wolf Rides Again. 1991, Flair/Virgin. Howlin' Wolf: His Best. 1997, MCA, Chess. |
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