Music Diary – 10th January

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 10th January!

Chester Arthur Burnett aka Howlin‘ Wolf (10th June 1910 – 10th January 1976)

On the 10th January 1976, one of the most outstanding musicians of the Blues genre passed away: Mr. Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as Howlin‘ Wolf, died at the age of 66. Born on the 10th June 1910 in White Station Mississippi (USA), he lived together with his mother and uncle Will, who treated him badly. At the age of 13, he ran away from home and started to search for his father. After a 85 miles barefoot walk he found him and became a full family member.

In the thirties he crossed paths with Blues man Charlie Patton, who taught him playing the guitar and Howlin‘ Wolf started to perform as a solo artist. He also worked and recorded with musicians like Floyd Jones, Johnny Shines, Honeyboy Edwards, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Robert Johnson, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Willie Brown, Son House and Willie Johnson. In 1948 he founded his own band featuring the guitarists Willie Johnson and Matt „Guitar“ Murphy, Junior Parker on harmonica and Willie Steele on drums. The trademark of the sound was Howlin‘ Wolf’s unique voice and the local radio station KWEM in West Memphis began broadcasting the live performances.

In 1951 the first singles were released: „How Many More Years“ with „Moaning at Midnight“ on the flip side (by Chess Records) and „Riding in the Moonlight“ backed with „Moaning at Midnight“ (by RPM Records). One year later, Howlin‘ Wolf was signed only by Chess Records and the Blues man moved to Chicago. More singles followed and in 1959 his debut album „Moanin‘ in the Moonlight“ was released.

In the sixties the Blues classics „Wang Dang Doodle„, „Back Door Man“, „Spoonful“, „The Red Rooster“ (later known as „Little Red Rooster„), „I Ain’t Superstitious„, „Goin‘ Down Slow“ and „Killing Floor“ hit the market and Howlin‘ Wolf became a very famous musician not only on the Blues scene. In 1964 he toured Europe – in the same year, The Rolling Stones reached number one in UK with their version of „Little Red Rooster„. Howlin‘ Wolf continued recording and perfroming – and he worked with many musicians all around the world, like Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ian Stewart, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. In 1973 his last album „The Back Door Wolf“ for Chess Reccords was released. In the seventies Howlin‘ Wolf suffered several heart attacks and on the 10th January 1976 he died due to complications of kidney disease. He passed away at the age of 66.

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Music Diary – 28th December

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 28th December!

Freddie King (3rd September 1934 – 28th December 1976)

On the 28th December 1976, Blues guitarist Freddie King died at the age of 42. Heart trouble and ulcers caused the death of the outstanding musician, who is often mentioned as one of the „Three Kings“ of Blues – beside Albert and B.B. King.

Already at the age of six years, Freddie was taught guitar lessons by his Mother Ella Mae and his uncle. In 1949 King moved with his family to Chicago, where he later get in touch with other great Blues musicians like Muddy Waters, Howlin‘ Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson. Freddie King’s first band was called „The Every Hour Blues Boys“, featuring Jimmie Lee Robinson on guitar and Frank „Sonny“ Scott on drums. Also in the fifties he played with many other Blues legends – Jimmy Rogers, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Eddie Taylor, Hound Dog Taylor, Willie Dixon, Memphis Slim and Little Walter.

In 1960, Freddie King was signed to the label Federal Records and on the 26th August his debut single „Have You Ever Loved a Woman“ backed with „You’ve Got to Love Her with a Feeling“ was released. Also during these sessions, the instrumental „Hide Away“ was recorded, which reached one year later No. 5 on the R&B Charts and No. 29 on the Pop Singles Charts in the USA.

During that time, Freddie toured with Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and James Brown. The two LPs for Atlantic Records „Freddie King Is a Blues Master“ (1969) and „My Feeling for the Blues“ (1970) hit the stores, before Freddie King recorded the classic song „Goin‘ Down“ (1971), which was written by Leon Russell and Don Nix.

The LP „Burglar“ (1974) features guest appearances of Eric Clapton, George Terry, drummer Jamie Oldaker and bassist Carl Radle. After the release of „Larger Than Life“ (1975), King began suffering stomack ulcers. Complications from that sickness and an acute pancreatitis led to death. Freddie King died on the 28th December 1976 at the age of only 42 years.

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Music Diary – 9th December

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 9th December!

On the 9th December 1966 the Cream debut „Fresh Cream“ was released. It was not only the first LP for the British supergroup feat. Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker – this LP marked also the first release for the new independent label Reaction Records, which was run by procuder Robert Stigwood. On the same day the sinlge „I feel free“ hit also the stores. This song is not featured on the UK edition of the LP, but it has been put on the US release (instead of the Willie Dixon cover „Spoonful„), which was first available in January 1967. The recording sessions for „Fresh Cream“ took place at the Rayrik and Ryemuse Studios in London from July until October 1966. The album reached No. 6 on the UK and No. 39 on the US chart.

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Music Diary – 16th Novemver

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 16th November!

Hubert Charles Sumlin (16th November 1931 – 4th December 2011)

Happy birthday to Chicago Blues man and guitarist Hubert Charles Sumlin, who was born on 16th November 1931 in Greenwood, Mississippi! When Hubert was eight years old he received his first guitar. In 1954 the Blues icon Howlin‘ Wolf invited Sumlin to be in his band – so he moved to Chicago and joined Mr. Chester Arthur Burnett. After the death of Howlin‘ Wolf, Hubert Sumlin continued playing with several band members under the moniker „The Wolf Pack“ until 1980. Sumlin also recorded many solo albums – some of them were nominated for a Grammy Award. Like his last LP „About them Shoes“ (2004), which features performances by Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Levon Helm, David Johansen and James Cotton. Hubert Sumlin was listed as number 43 in the Rolling Stone list of „100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time„. On the 4th December 2011 Hubert Sumlin passed away of heart failure at the age of 80. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards paid the funeral costs for the Blues legend.

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Music Diary – 13th November

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 13th November!

On the 13th November 1964 the Rolling Stones single „Little Red Rooster“ was released. The single became a No. 1 hit in the UK. The song is a cover version of the Blues classic by Willie Dixon and it was also recorded by musicians like Howlin‘ Wolf and Sam Cooke.

The Rolling Stones recorded the song on 2nd September 1964 and it was produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. For the b-side the track „Off the Hook“ was chosen.

For the Rolling Stones biographer Sean Egan it was a „Brian Jones‚ record. He was always the biggest Blues purist in the band.“ And bass player Bill Wyman remembers the recording: „‚Little Red Rooster'“ was a slow, intense Blues song, totally uncommercial and wrong for our new-found fame. The tempo made the track virtually undanceable.“ And Mick Jagger recalls: „The reason we recorded ‚Little Red Rooster‘ isn’t because we want to bring Blues to the masses. We’ve been going on and on about blues, so we thought it was about time we stopped talking and did something about it. We liked that particular song, so we released it.“

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Music Diary – 18th October

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 18th October!

Chuck Berry

Happy birthday to Mr. Charles Edward Anderson „Chuck“ Berry, who was born on the 18th October 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri! Berry is one of the most important pioneers of Rock’n’Roll music and recorded classics like „Maybellene“ (1955), „Roll Over Beethoven“ (1956), „Rock and Roll Music“ (1957) and „Johnny B. Goode“ (1958),

Since his teens Chuck Berry was playing the Blues and in 1953 he was performing with Johnnie Johnson’s trio. And he developed his very own style – a fresh mixture of Country and Rhythm & Blues. In 1955 Berry travelled to Chicago where he met his idol Muddy Waters. On 21st May the first Chuck Berry Single was recorded for the legendary Chess Records label – an adaption of „Ida Red“ called „Maybellene„. And this was the big start of his carreer: Over one million copies were sold and the single went straight to No. 1 on the Billboard’s Rhythm and Blues charts. One year later „Roll Over Beethoven“ was released and from 1957 until 1959 more hits followed: Singles like „School Days,“ „Rock and Roll Music,“ „Sweet Little Sixteen“ and „Johnny B. Goode“ entered the top ten. Chuck Berry became a real superstar but his career was stopped in 1959: In December, Berry was arrested because of transporting a 14-year-old girl over state lines (Mann Act). Two trials happened and finaly Berry was served one and one half years in prison from February 1962 to October 1963. Before going into jail, Chuck Berry’s single „Come On“ hit the shops. In the meantime many British bands discovered Berry’s music and acts like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones recorded cover versions.

After beeing released from prison, Chuck Berry returned into the studio and recorded more classics like „No Particular Place to Go„, „You Never Can Tell“ and „Nadine„. And in 1964 he did a successful tour through the UK. Between 1966 and 1969 five albums were released. And on the LP „From St. Louie to Frisco“ (1968) the song „My Tambourine“ is featured, which became later with different lyrics the hit „“My Ding-a-Ling“ (1972). In the seventies, Chuck Berry toured a lot all around the world. Also in the eighties he performed tremendously – appr. 100 concerts per year. And his last studio album „Rock it“ came out in 1979. Until present Chuck Berry concentrates on concerts instead of recording new songs.

In 1986, the documentary „Hail! Hail! Rock ’n‘ Roll“ (directed by Taylor Hackford) was released, to celebrate Chuck’s sixtieth birthday. The event was organized by Keith Richards. The film features also the gues performances of Eric Clapton, Etta James, Julian Lennon, Robert Cray and Linda Ronstadt.

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Music Diary – 2nd September

Welcome back to my Music Diary – today for the 2nd Sepetmber!

Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Billy Wyman, Brian Jones (Copyright: Derek Randle Mirrorpix)

Today in 1964 the Rolling Stones recorded the song „Little Red Rooster“ in London at the Regent Sound Studios. The track was originally written by the Blues legend Willie Dixon and also recorded by another Blues icon – Mr. Chester Arthur Burnett better known as Howlin‘ Wolf. The Single was released on 13th November 1964 and reached number one on the UK Single Charts.

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Music Diary – 15th February

Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 15th February!

Michael Bernard „Mike“ Bloomfield (July 28, 1943 – February 15, 1981)

 On the 15th February 1981, an outstanding guitar player passed away:
Mr. Michael Bernard „Mike“ Bloomfield died at the age of only 38 years.

Mike Bloomfied was born on the 28th July 1943 in Chicago, Illinois (USA). Already in his teenage years, Mike was addicted to Blues music and early he began to play with local black musicians like Sleepy John Estes, Yank Rachell and Little Brother Montgomery. Among his early supporters, who recognised Mike’s talent, were  B. B. King, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Buddy Guy and Al Kooper, who said about him: „They knew this was not just another white boy; this was someone who truly understood what the blues were all about.“

In 1964, Mike joined the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, which included Elvin Bishop, Howlin‘ Wolf, Sam Lay and Jerome Arnold. Three years later, Bloomfield left the band, moved to San Francisco and founded Electric Flag with organist Barry Goldberg and singer Nick Gravenites. Drummer Buddy Miles completed the line-up and on the Monterey Pop Festival they performed for the very first time. In April 1968 the debut album „A Long Time Comin‘“ was released. Although the LP received excellent reviews, rivalries and Mike’s heroin abuse took a heavy toll on the band and so Bloomfield left with Gravenites Goldberg and bassist Harvey Brooks.

In 1968, Bloomfield crossed paths with Al Kooper again and they were thinking about, to record a jam album. With Mike’s mates Brooks, Goldberg and with drummer Eddie Hoh, the quintet recorded this legendary album. To complete the sessions, Kooper invited Stephen Stills – and the member of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young added his guitar parts for the LP, which was called „Super Session“ (released in July 1968).

One year later, Bloomfield’s first solo album „It’s Not Killing Me“ hit the stores and he worked with different artists and on several projects. Unfortunately Mike’s heroin addiction grew bigger and bigger and on 15th February 1981 he was found dead in his car. Mike Bloomfield died on an heroin overdors – he was only 38 years old.

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Music Diary – 22nd August

Welcome to my music diary – today for the 22nd August!

John Lee Hooker – Vienna (Arena – Open Air)(04.07.1991/1992) © Alex Melomane

In 1917 Mr. John Lee Hooker was born in Mississippi. The singer and guitarist was one of the most important blues musicians and many of his songs became genre classics. On the 21st June 2001 Hooker died at the age of 83.

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