Muddy Waters(1913-1983)
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield) was one of the major forces in
contemporary blues. He was instrumental in bringing the sound of the
Mississippi Delta to Chicago in the 1940s, where his recordings for the
Chess label exerted an enormous influence on both blues and rock
musicians from the mid-'50s to the present day. Muddy made his first
recordings for the Library of Congress in the early 1940s, offering a
style that was highly influenced by the legendary Robert Johnson. It was after
World War II that Muddy, who had relocated to Chicago, began recording
electric versions of his blues. Such well-known classics as "I Can't Be
Satisfied", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Got My Mojo Workin'", "I Just Want
To Make Love To You" and many more redefined the sound of blues for
modern audiences. Over the years his band included such musicians as
Otis Spann, Little Walter (aka Little Walter Jacobs), James Cotton, Junior Wells, Willie Dixon
and numerous legends of the blues. He also inspired legions of young,
white musicians to try their hand at the blues, including Mike Bloomfield,
Johnny Winter, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Paul Butterfield, many of whom covered Muddy's
music.