Died On This Date (January 10, 1976) Howlin’ Wolf / Blues Legend

Howlin’ Wolf (Born Chester Burnett)
June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976

howlin-wolfWith his loud booming voice and raw harmonica skills, Howlin’ Wolf became one of the mid-20th century’s most influential blues men.  Wolf’s career began to build during the 1930s when he performed with the likes of Robert Johnson, Son House and Sonny Boy Williamson II.  His electrifying versions of such blues standards as “Smokestack Lightning” and “Backdoor Man” were what became embraced by later generations of rock bands like the Rolling Stones and the Doors.  Unlike most bluesmen before and since, Wolf did well financially.  He got an education, albeit later in life, and learned business skills that benefited him and his career.  Wolf suffered a few heart attacks toward the end of his life, and had his kidneys injured during a car accident.  On January 10, 1976, 65-year-old Howlin’ Wolf died of complications from kidney disease.

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The Chess Box: Howlin' Wolf - Howlin' Wolf

Died On This Date (December 19, 2000) Pops Staples

Roebuck “Pops” Staples
December 28, 1914 – December 19, 2000

thestaplesingersPops Staples was the leader and father of renowned gospel and R&B group, the Staple Singers.  His daughters Mavis, Cleotha and Yvonne, as well as son Pervis, all performed alongside him in the group.  Staples grew up in Mississippi, where he was influenced by listening to or playing with local bluesmen like Robert Johnson, Son House and Charley Patton.  He formed the Staple Singers in the late ’40s and began making records with them in early ’50s.  One of their earliest songs, “This May Be The Last Time” became a hit for the Rolling Stones in later years.  By the ’60s, the group were recording for Stax Records and churning out more pop-leaning hits like “Respect Yourself” and their biggest single, “I’ll Take You There.”  During the ’80s, Staples performed as a solo act, mostly going back to his blues roots.  His Father, Father album of 1995 won him a Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy, and in 1999, the Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.   Pops Staples was 85 when he died on December 19, 2000 from head injuries sustained in a fall.

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The Staple Singers

Died On This Date (October 19, 1988) Son House / Blues Legend

Eddie “Son” House
March 21, 1902 – October 19, 1988

sonhouseSon House was a pioneering Delta blues musician who was an immediate influence on the likes of Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters.  His innovative style of slide guitar playing and chain-gaing style of repetitive singing further influenced a slew of contemporary artists as well.  His songs have been covered by the White Stripes, John Mellencamp, and Gov’t Mule.  Born outside of Clarksdale, Mississippi, House’s early teens were filled with gospel music while he was a practicing Baptist minister.  He soon became intrigued by the blues and taught himself to play the guitar in his early 20s.  He set his sights on music as a career and started playing with the likes of Charley Patton and Robert Johnson from Clarksdale to Memphis.  In 1928, House served about one year of a 15-year sentence at the notorious Parchman Work Farm for shooting a man in what he claimed was self-defense.  The story goes that while House was performing at a juke joint, an unknown man came in and opened fire in an apparent random shooting spree. After being shot in the leg, House grabbed his gun and shot the man dead.  Upon his release, House made several recordings for famed musicologist, Alan Lomax.  But like so many of his contemporaries, House and his music fell out of favor as the ’50s dawned.  Fortunately, he was “re-discovered” like many of the others during the folk revival of the mid ’60s.  After years working on the railroad, House found himself touring again and playing high-profile gigs at the Newport Folk Festival.  Son House permanently retired in 1974 due to health problems and died from cancer of the larynx in 1988.

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Son House