It's been one of those weeks. Chester, Chester Arthur Burnett, the legendary Howlin' Wolf.
6'3", 300 pounds, nicknamed "Bull Cow" as a kid. The Wolf was known as a devoted husband who, unlike so many of his contemporaries, steered clear of drugs, booze and strange women. It's said Eric Clapton paid for his tombstone.
" It's said Eric Clapton paid for his tombstone. "
ReplyDeleteA sad fact. One of the quintessential South Side side men (whose name eludes my senility approaching brain right now), who played piano for many of the greats over the years, Muddy, prolly the Wolf and more died destitute and the Chicago Musicians local wouldn't even pay for his burial because, get this - HE WAS BEHIND ON HIS DUES!!!!!! Not one of those pioneers, mostly migrants from the south, who made South Side Chicago the Jerusalem or Bethlehem of the modern blues was behind on paying their dues.............. and the young white boys like Harvey Mandel, Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield paid theirs as well.