WILLYS JOINT Muddy Waters Tribute!
McKinley Morganfield was the name given him at birth, in Rolling Fork Mississipi on April 4, 1915. He was sent to live with his grandma, Della Jones, as a tiny baby. At three his mamma died and he went to live with his grandma at Stovals plantation. The name Muddy Waters was given him by his grandma, cause he was always playing in a stream that flowed by their place, and that became the name he was forever after remembered by. Not many people recognize his real name, but mention Muddy Waters and just about everybody knows who you're talking about! (from liner notes to Muddy Waters The Complete Plantation Recordings)
Ole Muddy was the King of Chicago Blues, a title that was often in dispute. Especially in the small neighborhood bars and taverns on the south, and later west sides of Chicago. In the days of the greats, the mid to late fifties, it was often said the three Ws controlled Chicago Blues. Waters, Wolf, and Williamson. What I wouldn't give to be there at a cuttin' contest!
Now a cuttin' contest was what they called it when a band invited other musicians up to play, or sometimes when they didn't like what you were playing and got up to show you how it's done! The song I have here is "Who do You Love" by Bo Diddley. Here Muddy and Little Walter add their comments. As a singer and guitarist Muddy Waters was unique, he had a way of singing slightly behind the beat. And his slide guitar work was unmatched by anyone. Not even anybody who's tried to copy his licks can come close. And he always knew when to add a lick, and when to lay off, unlike todays guitarists who... Oops that's IMO!
Muddy was also a master band leader, the band he formed in the mid fifties in Chicago is still looked upon with awe. With folks like Otis Spann piano, Jimmy Rogers guitar, Luther Tucker bass, Fred Below drums, the great Little Walter Harp, and Muddy doing vocals and slide it's no wonder. (from the liner notes to The best of Muddy Waters) The band didn't remain constant (what does?) but to be a part of Muddies band meant a whole lot! The guys who held the Harp spot (my passion, remember) included Jr. Wells, James Cotton, George Smith (often billed as "Little Walter Jr.?), Paul Osher, Jerry Portnoy, and a virtual whos who of top players. Most used that as a jumping off point to their own careers playing the Blues. At the bottom is a link to go to the official Muddy Waters site, tell them Willy sent you!
Now if you're here from my first page you've read my lyrics "I'm A Blues-man." In it I say, have been from a child. When I first heard Muddy Waters sing em I identified." Okay, if you wanna split hairs I was like ten years old when I first heard them. This was back in 1965, the Beetles were taking the US by storm I wasn't interested in them. Too sugar coated for me, I wanted something with a bit more rebellion in it, and one day on my way home with a friend he was playing an 8-track tape of the Rolling Stones. Little Red Rooster came on and I said, "Wow Mick Jagger can sure write songs!" He laughed and said, "That wasn't written by Jagger, it's by Muddy Waters!" (Before we knew it was written by Willie Dixon.) He had a Muddy album in the backseat that he lent me. And I was hooked. Since then I've gone through Folk, Rock & Roll, and even a little Jazz but I keep coming back to the Blues!
To read more on ole muddy, http://www.muddywaters.com/