Hubert Sumlin
November 16, 1931 – December 4, 2011
Hubert Sumlin was a Chicago Blues electric guitarist and singer who is most often remembered for his time playing with Howlin’ Wolf during the 1960s. Decades later, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at #43 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time. Raised in Arkansas, Sumlin was just six when he began playing to guitar, and he was still just a youngster when he first met Wolf after sneaking into one of his shows. Years later, Wolf, who had by then settled in Chicago, invited Sumlin to move up and join him in his band. By 1955, Sumlin was the lead guitarist of the group, and would stay as such for the rest of Wolf’s career. Sumlin can be heard on Wolf’s landmark album, Howlin’ Wolf, which is considered one of the greatest blues albums of all times. He also played with Muddy Waters for a brief time. Sumlin released several of his own albums between 1964 and 2004 when he had to give up recording after having one of his lungs removed. He did, however, continue to perform up into his final years. In 2008, Sumlin was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, and over the years he received four Grammy nominations. Hubert Sumlin died of heart failure on December 4, 2011. He was 80.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.
What You Should Own
