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Muddy Waters

 


Muddy Waters | CBS | tc030

Blues singer and song writer McKinley Morganfield (Muddy Waters) is thoiught to have been born in Isssaquena County, Mississippi, on April 4, 1913 (some documents claim 1914 or 1915). He was nicknamed Muddy by his grandmother while a child. During his childhood he learned to play the harmonica.

He moved to Chicago in 1940, already an accomplished blues musician, and took up the guitar. After recording for other concerns, he teamed up with the Chess Brothers to join Aristocrat Records in 1946.

Waters attracted the cream of musicians to his band and by 1953 the band included Little Walter, Otis Spann and Jimmy Rogers. In the early 60s his performance at the Newport Jazz Festival became a classic album and inspired many UK groups and musicians.

Waters remains one of the most influential blues and rhythm and blues artistes of all time.

Mr Waters died in Westmont, Illinois, on April 30, 1983, during his sleep, from heart failure and cancer complications. 

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