howling wolf
Quick Info
- Genres: blues, classic blues, blues rock
- Spotify Popularity: 49/100
- Followers: 555,142
- Born: White Station (near West Point), Mississippi, United States
Biography
Chester Arthur Burnett, known professionally as Howlin' Wolf, was born on June 10, 1910, in White Station, Mississippi (near West Point). Growing up in poverty on a cotton plantation, Burnett experienced a difficult childhood—after his parents separated, he was sent to live with an uncle who treated him harshly, prompting him to run away at age 13 to live with his father, a sharecropper. During the 1920s and 1930s, he became a protégé of Delta blues legend Charley Patton, who gave him guitar lessons after Burnett received a guitar as a birthday present in 1928. He also learned harmonica from Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller), who had married Wolf's half-sister, and developed his distinctive vocal style by incorporating yodels and moans inspired by Tommy Johnson and country singer Jimmie Rodgers. Standing well over six feet tall and weighing close to 300 pounds, Burnett's massive physical presence matched his powerful, gravelly voice, earning him the nickname "Howlin' Wolf."
In the 1940s, Wolf moved to Arkansas where he formed his own group that included future blues stars James Cotton and Little Junior Parker. His breakthrough came in 1951 when his first record "Moanin' at Midnight," recorded for producer Sam Phillips in Memphis after being recruited by Ike Turner, became a hit and led to a record deal with Chess Records in Chicago. Wolf relocated to Chicago and became a central figure in transforming acoustic Delta blues into electric Chicago blues, recording his biggest hits and most enduring works during the 1950s and 1960s, including "Spoonful" and "Killing Floor." Between 1951 and 1969, six of his songs reached the Billboard R&B charts. As a bandleader, Wolf earned respect for his professionalism—he was always prompt and generous in paying his musicians and even provided health insurance and Social Security benefits. His live performances were legendary; he would jump about the stage, wriggle on the floor, and howl with such intensity that he became the living embodiment of the blues' most powerful forces.
Wolf's reputation grew significantly during the blues revival of the 1960s when British and American rock stars openly acknowledged his influence. He recorded several acclaimed albums including "The Howlin' Wolf Album" (1969), "Message to the Young" (1971), "The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions" (1971), and "The Back Door Wolf" (1973). His career spanned four decades, during which he recorded blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and even psychedelic rock. After years of deteriorating health exacerbated by a 1970 car accident, Wolf performed for the last time in November 1975 alongside B.B. King. He died on January 10, 1976, in Hines, Illinois, and is buried at Oakridge Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois, with a guitar and harmonica engraved on his headstone. His legacy as one of the most influential blues musicians of all time was cemented with posthumous inductions into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
Enhanced with Perplexity AI research
Sources: Source1, Source2, Source3, Source4
Fun Facts
- Howlin' Wolf was a towering figure both literally and figuratively—he stood well over six feet tall and weighed close to 300 pounds, and his massive physical presence made him one of the most intimidating and electrifying performers in blues history.
- Wolf was known for his exceptional professionalism and generosity as a bandleader—he was always prompt in paying his musicians and even provided health insurance and Social Security benefits, which was extremely rare for blues bandleaders in the 1950s and 1960s.
- His stage performances were legendary for their physical intensity: he would jump about the stage like an angry man, wriggle on the floor as if in unbearable pain, and howl with such ferocity that he became the living embodiment of the blues, earning his famous nickname.
- Wolf got his nickname from his distinctive performance style of howling, growling, and hooting. He once told Rolling Stone magazine in 1968: 'I couldn't do no yodelin', so I turned to howlin'. And it's done me just fine.'
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Charley Patton - Delta blues mentor who gave Wolf guitar lessons and taught him powerful performing techniques and showmanship (Influenced Wolf's guitar playing style and stage presence) [1928-1930s]
- Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) - Taught Wolf how to play harmonica after marrying Wolf's half-sister (Harmonica techniques and performance style) [1930s-1940s]
- Tommy Johnson - Influenced Wolf's vocal style, particularly the use of moans and extended vocal range (Vocal techniques) [1920s-1930s]
- Jimmie Rodgers - Blues-influenced country singer who inspired Wolf's use of yodels in his vocal style (Yodeling techniques) [1920s-1930s]
- Blind Lemon Jefferson - Early blues influence on Wolf's musical development (Blues style and approach) [1920s-1930s]
Key Collaborators
- Hubert Sumlin - Wolf's steady guitar sideman known as a dazzling soloist and improviser (Performed on Wolf's Chicago recordings and live performances) [1950s-1970s]
- James Cotton - Member of Wolf's band in Arkansas who became a noted blues performer (Arkansas group performances) [1940s]
- Little Junior Parker - Member of Wolf's band in Arkansas who became a noted blues performer (Arkansas group performances) [1940s]
- Willie Johnson - Band member who worked with Wolf as a local celebrity (Early band performances) [1940s-1950s]
- Pat Hare - Guitarist who worked with Wolf's band (Band performances) [1950s]
- Sam Phillips - Producer who recorded Wolf's first hit in Memphis ("Moanin' at Midnight" (1951)) [1951]
- Ike Turner - A&R man who recruited Wolf to record for Sam Phillips (Memphis recordings) [1951]
Artists Influenced
- The Rolling Stones - British rock band that openly acknowledged Wolf's influence and was among his particular favorites (Blues-influenced rock music of the 1960s) [1960s-1970s]
- Jimi Hendrix - Guitar legend who cited Wolf as a particular favorite and influence (Blues-influenced rock guitar style) [1960s-1970s]
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Moanin' In The Moonlight | 1958-03-01 | Album |
| Howlin' Wolf | 1962-01-11 | Album |
| The Real Folk Blues | 1966-01-11 | Album |
| The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions (Deluxe Edition) | 1971-08-01 | Album |
| The Chess Box | 1991-11-12 | Album |
| The Howlin' Wolf Album | 1969-11-04 | Album |
| Change My Way | 1975-01-01 | Album |
| Smokestack Lightning /The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960 | 2011-10-24 | Album |
| The Definitive Collection | 2007-01-01 | Album |
| His Best | 2001-01-01 | Album |
| The Back Door Wolf | 1973-01-01 | Album |
| More Real Folk Blues | 1967-01-01 | Album |
| Howlin' Wolf Greatest Songs | 2018-08-31 | Album |
| The Memphis Sessions | 2007-04-20 | Album |
| Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog: Chess Collectibles Vol. 2 | 1994-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Smokestack Lightnin' (Moanin' In The Moonlight)
- Spoonful (Howlin' Wolf)
- Killing Floor (The Real Folk Blues)
- Evil (Is Going On) (Moanin' In The Moonlight)
- Little Red Rooster (Howlin' Wolf)
- How Many More Years (Moanin' In The Moonlight)
- I Ain't Superstitious (The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions (Deluxe Edition))
- Back Door Man (Howlin' Wolf)
- Moanin' At Midnight (Moanin' In The Moonlight)
- Sitting On Top Of The World (The Real Folk Blues)
External Links
Heard on WWOZ
howling wolf has been played 2 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 3, 2025 | 19:00 | spoonful | Blues and R&Bw/ Gentilly Jr. | |
| Oct 13, 2025 | 19:00 | Spoonful | Blues and R&Bw/ Gentilly Jr. |