WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.480 Welcome, curious minds, to the deep dive. Today, 00:00:03.660 --> 00:00:05.500 we're not just scratching the surface. We're 00:00:05.500 --> 00:00:08.439 plunging headfirst into a name that, well, just 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:11.259 by its very sound, it conjures up this force 00:00:11.259 --> 00:00:15.359 of nature, Howlin' Wolf. Just hearing that moniker, 00:00:15.660 --> 00:00:18.940 Howlin' Wolf, you immediately picture someone... 00:00:18.859 --> 00:00:22.679 powerful, maybe a bit primal, with a voice that 00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:24.839 could maybe shake the foundations of the earth. 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:27.620 It makes you wonder, you know, what kind of person, 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:29.719 what kind of life, what kind of sound could possibly 00:00:29.719 --> 00:00:32.560 earn such an iconic, almost elemental name? It 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:34.280 really is a name that doesn't just describe, 00:00:34.500 --> 00:00:37.420 it sort of evokes something, doesn't it? It suggests 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:40.280 a presence that's, well, beyond the ordinary. 00:00:40.409 --> 00:00:43.530 hinting at a life lived with this intensity that 00:00:43.530 --> 00:00:45.530 frankly few could match. It's almost like a mission 00:00:45.530 --> 00:00:47.689 statement in itself. Absolutely, it really is. 00:00:48.030 --> 00:00:49.729 So prepare yourselves because we're embarking 00:00:49.729 --> 00:00:53.689 on a deep dive into the extraordinary life and 00:00:53.689 --> 00:00:55.729 monumental legacy of Chester Arthur Burnett, 00:00:55.829 --> 00:00:57.810 the man far better known of course as Howlin' 00:00:57.990 --> 00:01:00.350 Wolf. We've pulled together articles, researched 00:01:00.350 --> 00:01:02.630 some really fascinating personal accounts to 00:01:02.630 --> 00:01:05.450 unpack the incredible journey of this man born 00:01:05.450 --> 00:01:08.659 into the harsh segregated realities of the deep 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:12.400 south. He didn't just transform the blues, he 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:15.200 carved this indelible mark on the, well, the 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:17.299 beginning sounds of rock and roll, leaving an 00:01:17.299 --> 00:01:20.079 influence that still reverberates today. And 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:22.780 our mission today, really, is to truly understand 00:01:22.780 --> 00:01:25.120 the forces that shaped him. We're gonna explore 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:29.060 how his profoundly challenging early life, his, 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:32.060 I mean... truly unique guttural vocal style. 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:35.480 Oh yeah. His surprising and frankly remarkably 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:37.980 disciplined financial sense. Which is fascinating. 00:01:38.019 --> 00:01:40.500 It really is and an almost relentless dedication 00:01:40.500 --> 00:01:42.879 to his craft. How all that combined to make him 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:44.900 one of the most influential blues musicians of 00:01:44.900 --> 00:01:46.959 all time. We're going to discover some genuinely 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:48.939 surprising facts about his personal discipline. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:51.819 His incredible path from being functionally illiterate 00:01:51.819 --> 00:01:54.799 to becoming this really business savvy band leader. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:57.500 Yeah. And just the sheer tenacity that defined 00:01:57.500 --> 00:02:00.799 his entire remarkable career. Get ready because 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:03.140 by the end of this deep dive you'll understand 00:02:03.140 --> 00:02:05.879 how a childhood nickname, which was initially 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:08.080 just kind of a playful scalping, right? Right, 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:10.439 exactly. How that evolved into a global phenomenon. 00:02:10.939 --> 00:02:13.759 You'll grasp how one man's distinctive growl 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:15.900 and how it didn't just define his sound, but 00:02:15.900 --> 00:02:18.780 actually reshaped an entire genre, influencing 00:02:18.780 --> 00:02:21.960 countless artists across generations, from the 00:02:21.960 --> 00:02:24.900 Rolling Stones to modern experimental rock bands. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.500 It's quite rich. It really is. It's a story of 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:30.900 survival, incredible resilience, and just pure 00:02:30.900 --> 00:02:33.979 unadultery. musical genius, and we're going to 00:02:33.979 --> 00:02:37.120 show you not just what happened, but why it mattered 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:40.400 so profoundly. Hashtag Tay One. Early life and 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:43.000 the genesis of a howl. Okay, let's start right 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:44.840 at the beginning, at the very genesis of this 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:47.460 legend. The man we came to know as Howlin' Wolf 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:49.930 was born Chester Arthur Burnett. That was June 00:02:49.930 --> 00:02:52.849 10th, 1910, in White Station, a small community 00:02:52.849 --> 00:02:55.949 near West Point, Mississippi. And kind of fascinatingly, 00:02:55.969 --> 00:02:58.389 he was actually named after the 21st U .S. president, 00:02:58.650 --> 00:03:01.229 Chester A. Arthur. Yeah, that's a detail many 00:03:01.229 --> 00:03:02.930 might not know, especially when you think about 00:03:02.930 --> 00:03:06.030 the raw, sort of untamed nature of his later 00:03:06.030 --> 00:03:08.550 persona. And you mentioned his imposing physical 00:03:08.550 --> 00:03:11.189 presence right at the start, which is just so 00:03:11.189 --> 00:03:13.370 critical to understanding him. This wasn't something 00:03:13.370 --> 00:03:15.189 that developed later. From a very young age, 00:03:15.210 --> 00:03:18.060 he was, well, physically formidable right standing 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:21.080 six foot three weighing maybe 275 pounds as an 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:24.060 adult here in nicknames like Bigfoot Chester 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:27.740 and a bull cow. Wow. This sheer size and strength, 00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:31.000 it undoubtedly played a huge role in how he navigated 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:34.300 a tough, often brutal world. And it certainly 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:37.240 contributed to that powerful, almost intimidating 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:39.979 stage presence he became famous for. You can 00:03:39.979 --> 00:03:42.060 almost see him just owning any space he walked 00:03:42.060 --> 00:03:44.360 into. Yeah, that physical presence is such a 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:46.680 striking contrast to the instability of his early 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:49.280 home life, isn't it? It really is. His parents, 00:03:49.740 --> 00:03:52.759 Gertrude Jones, who had Choctaw ancestry, and 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:55.319 Leon Doc Burnett, who he described as Ethiopian, 00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:57.819 they separated when he was just one year old. 00:03:58.139 --> 00:04:00.680 Just one. This early instability, this sort of 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:03.120 broken family foundation, it really set a difficult 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:05.340 and often traumatic tone for his formative years. 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:09.360 What were some of the most profound early traumas 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:11.080 he went through? Well, that's a really powerful 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:14.550 point. The trauma began incredibly early. I mean, 00:04:14.610 --> 00:04:16.589 he was kicked out of his mother's house during 00:04:16.589 --> 00:04:19.350 the winter as a child. In winter? Yeah. This 00:04:19.350 --> 00:04:21.930 wasn't just a physical hardship. It was a deeply 00:04:21.930 --> 00:04:24.410 scarring experience that you can almost trace 00:04:24.410 --> 00:04:26.750 right into the raw emotion in his music later 00:04:26.750 --> 00:04:30.850 on. The reasons why this happened, and they remain 00:04:30.850 --> 00:04:34.209 somewhat speculative, but each possibility paints 00:04:34.209 --> 00:04:37.060 this vivid picture of the... harshness of his 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:39.660 upbringing, and the profound rejection he must 00:04:39.660 --> 00:04:41.959 have felt. Right. Sources suggest it could have 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:44.300 been, well, maybe his refusal to work the fields, 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:47.139 or perhaps a rejection of choir music in favor 00:04:47.139 --> 00:04:49.139 of the blues, which would be pretty ironic, wouldn't 00:04:49.139 --> 00:04:51.240 it? Yeah, hugely ironic. Or maybe his mother's 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:53.740 new partner just didn't want him around. Or, 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:56.300 and this is tough, his mother's perception of 00:04:56.300 --> 00:04:59.060 him being too dark in his society, just obsessed 00:04:59.060 --> 00:05:02.110 with colorism back then. And those reasons, refusal 00:05:02.110 --> 00:05:05.290 to work, favoring blues over choir, his mother's 00:05:05.290 --> 00:05:07.870 partner, or even his mother's perception of his 00:05:07.870 --> 00:05:10.129 darkness. I mean, each one suggests a different 00:05:10.129 --> 00:05:12.509 kind of burden, doesn't it? How much of that 00:05:12.509 --> 00:05:14.910 unresolved tension do you think fueled the intensity 00:05:14.910 --> 00:05:17.250 of his later performances? Oh, immensely, I'd 00:05:17.250 --> 00:05:20.149 guess. Regardless of the exact reason, this is 00:05:20.149 --> 00:05:22.509 a deeply scarring experience that clearly left 00:05:22.509 --> 00:05:25.569 a lasting impact. So after being cast out, he 00:05:25.569 --> 00:05:28.189 moved in with his grand uncle, Will Young. But 00:05:28.189 --> 00:05:31.379 it was a... Hardly an improvement not much better, 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:34.180 huh? No, it was a large household and he was 00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:36.220 apparently treated badly is essentially used 00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:38.879 as free labor He worked almost all day every 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:43.040 day in the fields and received no formal education 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:45.660 at all None none think about that for a moment 00:05:45.660 --> 00:05:48.160 one of the foundational figures in American music 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.779 a man who would later earn an honorary doctorate 00:05:50.779 --> 00:05:52.699 Wasn't even given the chance to learn to read 00:05:52.699 --> 00:05:55.610 or write as a child This lack of opportunity, 00:05:55.810 --> 00:05:58.009 this profound deprivation, it's a theme that 00:05:58.009 --> 00:06:00.329 runs right through his early life and profoundly 00:06:00.329 --> 00:06:03.310 shaped his character, his drive. That lack of 00:06:03.310 --> 00:06:05.209 formal education is just heartbreaking, especially 00:06:05.209 --> 00:06:07.850 knowing what he achieved later. But the abuse 00:06:07.850 --> 00:06:09.990 he suffered, it eventually led to this really 00:06:09.990 --> 00:06:12.310 dramatic breaking point, didn't it? It did. When 00:06:12.310 --> 00:06:15.529 he was 13, in a fit of rage after one of Young's 00:06:15.529 --> 00:06:18.589 hogs ruined his dress clothes, his dress clothes. 00:06:18.689 --> 00:06:20.310 Yeah, imagine how precious those must have been. 00:06:20.509 --> 00:06:23.649 Exactly. Burnett killed the animal. This act 00:06:23.649 --> 00:06:26.829 led to a severe whipping, followed by this desperate 00:06:26.829 --> 00:06:29.910 chase on a mule as he tried to escape. Wow. He 00:06:29.910 --> 00:06:32.290 then ran away, claiming later to have walked 00:06:32.290 --> 00:06:35.889 an astonishing 85 miles barefoot to finally join 00:06:35.889 --> 00:06:39.029 his father. 85 miles barefoot. Yeah. And it was 00:06:39.029 --> 00:06:41.029 with his father that he finally found a happy 00:06:41.029 --> 00:06:44.310 home, a large, welcoming family. During this 00:06:44.310 --> 00:06:46.870 period, he even used the name John Dee, trying 00:06:46.870 --> 00:06:49.410 to actively dissociate himself from that painful, 00:06:49.589 --> 00:06:52.529 traumatic past. What an incredible act of res 00:06:52.529 --> 00:06:54.370 - resilience and self -preservation for a kid. 00:06:54.930 --> 00:06:58.050 That journey, 85 miles barefoot, it's almost 00:06:58.050 --> 00:07:00.170 mythological, isn't it, for a young boy? See? 00:07:00.610 --> 00:07:03.389 And it absolutely speaks to his incredible, almost 00:07:03.389 --> 00:07:06.550 primal resilience, even at such a tender age. 00:07:06.949 --> 00:07:09.129 It shows you the kind of grit and determination 00:07:09.129 --> 00:07:11.470 he had right from the very beginning, just this 00:07:11.470 --> 00:07:14.269 drive to survive and find a better path. Yeah. 00:07:14.990 --> 00:07:17.689 And this brings us to the actual birth of the 00:07:17.689 --> 00:07:20.569 Howlin' Wolf persona. Yeah. Which, fittingly, 00:07:20.569 --> 00:07:23.509 has this fantastic and quite personal origin 00:07:23.509 --> 00:07:25.889 story. It really is a perfect origin story for 00:07:25.889 --> 00:07:28.370 him. The name Howlin' Wolf didn't initially come 00:07:28.370 --> 00:07:31.170 from his powerful stage presence, like many might 00:07:31.170 --> 00:07:33.670 assume. Right. Instead, it came from his maternal 00:07:33.670 --> 00:07:36.610 grandfather, John Jones. Apparently, young Chester 00:07:36.610 --> 00:07:38.709 had this habit of squeezing his grandmother's 00:07:38.709 --> 00:07:41.990 chicks too hard. Oh, dear. Yeah. So his grandfather 00:07:41.990 --> 00:07:44.550 may be trying to scare him into being a bit gentler. 00:07:44.589 --> 00:07:46.069 told him that wolves would come and get him if 00:07:46.069 --> 00:07:48.149 he didn't stop. It's such a vivid image, isn't 00:07:48.149 --> 00:07:51.089 it? A mischievous boy, a scolding elder, and 00:07:51.089 --> 00:07:53.949 boom, the genesis of a legend. It's absolutely 00:07:53.949 --> 00:07:56.370 perfect for him, a name that just stuck from 00:07:56.370 --> 00:07:58.870 childhood mischief. And the actual sound of the 00:07:58.870 --> 00:08:01.589 howl, that came from a fascinating musical evolution, 00:08:01.910 --> 00:08:04.250 too. He was heavily influenced by the country 00:08:04.250 --> 00:08:06.889 singer Jimmy Rogers. The father of country music. 00:08:07.110 --> 00:08:10.490 Exactly. Known for his distinctive blue yodel. 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:13.339 And Burnett initially tried to emulate Rogers 00:08:13.339 --> 00:08:16.399 Yodel, but as he himself famously put it, I couldn't 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:19.040 do no yodeling, so I turned to howling, and it's 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:23.439 done me just fine. Ah, love that. It wasn't just 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:26.079 a clever nickname, you see. It was a descriptor 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:30.000 of his unique, raw, guttural vocal style that 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:32.720 would become his absolute trademark. It's almost 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:35.179 as if his voice naturally found its most authentic, 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:37.919 most powerful expression through that untamed, 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:40.580 almost animalistic sound. That transformation 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:43.299 from attempting a yodel to perfecting a howl 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:45.820 is incredibly insightful. It shows an artist 00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:47.720 finding their true voice even when it wasn't 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:50.360 what they originally set out to do. It wasn't 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:52.559 an imitation. It was this authentic expression 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:54.720 of his own physical and emotional landscape. 00:08:55.220 --> 00:08:57.700 And it really cemented his unique sound in a 00:08:57.700 --> 00:09:00.460 way no one else could replicate. On a more tangible 00:09:00.460 --> 00:09:03.720 note, A really significant turning point in his 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:07.299 early life, a moment of profound personal agency, 00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:11.840 was January 15th, 1928. On that day, he managed 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:14.379 to gather enough money, probably through grueling 00:09:14.379 --> 00:09:17.000 work, to buy his first guitar. This was such 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:19.620 a monumental event for him that he reportedly 00:09:19.620 --> 00:09:21.779 never forgot that date until the day he died. 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:24.179 It just speaks volumes about how important that 00:09:24.179 --> 00:09:28.029 moment was for his future. Right. So with his 00:09:28.029 --> 00:09:30.490 first guitar in hand, we move into the 1930s, 00:09:30.570 --> 00:09:33.970 which was a truly crucial period for his musical 00:09:33.970 --> 00:09:36.269 apprenticeship in the, well, the fertile grounds 00:09:36.269 --> 00:09:39.370 of the Mississippi Delta. Absolutely. In 1930, 00:09:39.610 --> 00:09:41.690 Burnett met Charlie Patton, who was arguably 00:09:41.690 --> 00:09:43.990 the most popular and influential bluesman in 00:09:43.990 --> 00:09:45.909 the Delta at that time. The king, basically. 00:09:46.230 --> 00:09:49.009 Yeah. Imagine him, this young aspiring musician, 00:09:49.169 --> 00:09:51.370 maybe still a bit rough around the edges, listening 00:09:51.370 --> 00:09:53.730 to Patton play nightly from outside juke joints, 00:09:53.809 --> 00:09:56.259 just soaking it all in. He remembered specific 00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:58.779 songs like Pony Blues and Smoke Stack Lightning 00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:01.419 years later, which is a testament to their deep 00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:04.480 impact. And Patton wasn't just a performer. He 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:07.740 became Burnett's vital mentor, a true master 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:10.279 passing down his craft. He taught him guitar. 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:13.200 With Pony Blues being the very first song, he 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:15.559 learned a foundational piece of Delta Blues, 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:18.860 right? But just as importantly, Burnett learned 00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:21.610 the art of showmanship from Patton. Patton was 00:10:21.610 --> 00:10:24.590 known for this flamboyant, almost acrobatic style. 00:10:25.070 --> 00:10:27.809 He was described as turning his guitar over backwards 00:10:27.809 --> 00:10:30.250 and forwards and throw it around over his shoulders 00:10:30.250 --> 00:10:32.529 between his legs, throw it up in the sky. Wow, 00:10:32.610 --> 00:10:35.509 really theatrical. Totally. These were audacious 00:10:35.509 --> 00:10:37.610 tricks that Howlin' Wolf would incorporate throughout 00:10:37.610 --> 00:10:41.049 his own career, transforming him into this captivating, 00:10:41.289 --> 00:10:44.169 almost theatrical live performer. It was like 00:10:44.169 --> 00:10:46.769 a complete education, not just in music, but 00:10:46.769 --> 00:10:48.809 in stage presence. That's incredible. Not just 00:10:48.809 --> 00:10:51.370 the music, but the stage... It's fascinating 00:10:51.370 --> 00:10:53.690 how he absorbed not just the musical notes, but 00:10:53.690 --> 00:10:56.610 the entire performance artistry. This blend of 00:10:56.610 --> 00:10:59.070 raw sound and theatricality must have been just 00:10:59.070 --> 00:11:01.690 electrifying to see. Oh, I bet. Beyond Patton, 00:11:01.750 --> 00:11:04.850 he was also soaking up influences from a whole 00:11:04.850 --> 00:11:07.769 pantheon of other blue greats of the era. You 00:11:07.769 --> 00:11:10.570 got the Mississippi Sheiks, Blind Lemon Jefferson, 00:11:10.909 --> 00:11:13.470 Moraney, Lonnie Johnson, Tampa Red, Blind Blake. 00:11:13.629 --> 00:11:16.169 This goes on. It really does. He even mastered 00:11:16.169 --> 00:11:19.250 songs like Jefferson's Matchbox Blues. This really 00:11:19.250 --> 00:11:21.570 shows his dedication to learning and his wide 00:11:21.570 --> 00:11:24.210 ranging appreciation for the blues. He was a 00:11:24.210 --> 00:11:26.669 true student of the genre. Absolutely. And his 00:11:26.669 --> 00:11:28.570 dedication to learning wasn't just limited to 00:11:28.570 --> 00:11:32.029 the guitar, his dist - harmonica style, for instance, 00:11:32.370 --> 00:11:35.309 that was directly modeled after Sonny Boy Williams 00:11:35.309 --> 00:11:37.309 in the second. Oh, okay. Who actually taught 00:11:37.309 --> 00:11:39.470 him how to play when Burnett moved to park in 00:11:39.470 --> 00:11:43.200 Arkansas back in 1933. Yeah. So we see this really 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:45.320 deliberate and comprehensive apprenticeship happening 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:47.879 here, learning from the best in both guitar and 00:11:47.879 --> 00:11:50.259 harmonica. He was building an entire arsenal 00:11:50.259 --> 00:11:52.580 of musical expression, honing the skills that 00:11:52.580 --> 00:11:54.820 would define his unique sound. So by the end 00:11:54.820 --> 00:11:57.679 of the 1930s, Burnett was like a fixture in Delta 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:00.139 clubs, a known quantity. He was performing solo 00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:02.159 and with other incredible blues musicians of 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:04.720 the day like Floyd Jones, Johnny Shines, Robert 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:07.379 Johnson, Robert Lockwood Jr. Legends, all of 00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:10.019 them. Right. He was often equipped with his harmonica 00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:12.360 and an early electric guitar. tar, already kind 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:14.240 of pushing the boundaries of the acoustic delta 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:17.559 sound, hinting at that electric future. But it 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:20.299 wasn't all just music and camaraderie. He faced 00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:22.840 some seriously personal and dangerous challenges 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:26.820 during this time. The Deep South was just a perilous 00:12:26.820 --> 00:12:29.480 place for a black man, and that reality manifested 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:32.600 in a particularly grim incident. That's a crucial 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:35.940 point, and it truly underscores the raw perilous 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:38.740 realities of life for a bluesman in that era. 00:12:39.299 --> 00:12:41.980 Down in Hughes, Arkansas, while trying to protect 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:43.980 a female acquaintance, he got into a fight with 00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:46.279 an angry boyfriend and tragically killed the 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:49.059 man with a hoe. Guy Evans. Yeah. The outcome 00:12:49.059 --> 00:12:51.500 of this incident is actually disputed. Some accounts 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:53.740 say he fled the area, others suggest he served 00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:56.500 some jail time, but what it absolutely underscores 00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:59.279 is the desperation and violence that could just 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:02.100 erupt in his world. It makes his survival and 00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:04.519 the visual success all the more remarkable, really, 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:07.279 given the constant shadow of danger and the precariousness 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:09.399 of life for black men in the Jim Crow South. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:11.940 That's a grim reminder of the brutal context 00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:15.059 he lived in. And then the 1940s brought this 00:13:15.059 --> 00:13:17.559 tumultuous interlude that dramatically altered 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:20.279 his path. Military service. Right. The Army. 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:23.539 On April 9th, 1941, he was inducted into the 00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:26.860 U .S. Army and assigned to the 9th Cavalry Regiment 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:29.799 one of the famous Buffalo Soldiers Units, an 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:31.779 all -black cavalry unit with a really storied 00:13:31.779 --> 00:13:34.399 history. Interestingly, he later stated that 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:37.080 plantation workers, whom he had refused to work 00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:39.960 for, were the ones who alerted military authorities 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:43.659 to his presence. So even his induction had this 00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:46.500 element of like forced labor and resentment behind 00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:48.659 it, a continuation of the oppression he faced. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.940 Yeah, and his army experience was profoundly 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:53.179 challenging. particularly because of that lack 00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:55.500 of formal education, which came back to haunt 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:57.960 him in a really brutal way. How so? Well, basic 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:00.620 training involved long hours of just menial work. 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:03.519 At Camp Landing, Florida, he was assigned to 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:05.620 kitchen patrol cooking by day, playing guitar 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:07.820 by night. Oh, of course. Later, he played guitar 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:09.779 on the mess hall steps at Fort Gordon, Georgia. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:12.779 where a young James Brown. The James Brown? Yeah, 00:14:12.820 --> 00:14:14.639 who was shining shoes and performing buck dances 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:16.600 there, actually heard him play for the first 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:19.179 time. Can you just imagine that historical confluence? 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:23.159 A young James Brown, unknowingly witnessing the 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:26.519 raw power of the wolf. A moment of unrecorded 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:29.240 but utterly foundational musical cross -pollination. 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:32.139 What an incredible, almost cinematic moment in 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:35.039 music history. Unknowingly witnessing a legend 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:37.419 who would, in turn, influence other legends. 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:41.159 But his illiteracy, that deep scar from his childhood, 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:43.500 caused him immense trauma during his service. 00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:45.960 He really did. He was sent to a tutoring camp 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:48.759 in Tacoma, Washington, assigned the complex task 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:52.100 of decoding communications. Because he was functionally 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:54.299 illiterate, he was repeatedly beaten by the drill 00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:56.759 instructor for his errors. Beaten? Oh my god. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:59.879 Yeah. This horrific ordeal led to uncontrollable 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:03.399 shaking fits, dizzy spells, fainting mental confusion. 00:15:04.110 --> 00:15:06.669 It truly highlights the profound impact of his 00:15:06.669 --> 00:15:09.570 lack of formal education and the brutal dehumanizing 00:15:09.570 --> 00:15:11.750 treatment he endured simply for a deficiency 00:15:11.750 --> 00:15:13.629 that wasn't even his fault. It's heartbreaking, 00:15:13.789 --> 00:15:16.269 isn't it? And it's such a telling detail about 00:15:16.269 --> 00:15:18.809 the physical and psychological cost of that early 00:15:18.809 --> 00:15:22.549 deprivation. So after an evaluation at an Army 00:15:22.549 --> 00:15:25.409 mental hospital, Burnett was found unfit for 00:15:25.409 --> 00:15:27.929 duty and honorably discharged on November 3, 00:15:28.269 --> 00:15:31.370 1943. His reflection on the experience, though, 00:15:31.509 --> 00:15:34.090 sums it up. The army ain't no place for a black 00:15:34.090 --> 00:15:36.049 man. Just couldn't take all that bossing around, 00:15:36.129 --> 00:15:39.610 I guess. The wolf's his own boss. Wow. That perfectly 00:15:39.610 --> 00:15:42.149 captures his fierce, unyielding independence 00:15:42.149 --> 00:15:45.090 and his deep -seated desire to control his own 00:15:45.090 --> 00:15:47.889 destiny to never be subjugated again. That quote 00:15:47.889 --> 00:15:50.509 just screams Howlin' Wolf. It really does. So 00:15:50.509 --> 00:15:52.490 after the army, he returned to his family near 00:15:52.490 --> 00:15:54.960 West Memphis, Arkansas. He helped with farming, 00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:57.779 but crucially, never stopped his music. He kept 00:15:57.779 --> 00:16:00.019 performing, drawing on all those influences and 00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:02.860 experiences. Then in 1948, he took a significant 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:05.519 step, maybe emboldened by his Army experience 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:08.659 and that desire to be his own boss. He formed 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:10.879 his own band. This was a pivotal moment for his 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:13.299 career, yeah. Marking his true emergence as a 00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:15.720 leader. His band featured guitarists Willie Johnson 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:18.460 and Mad Guitar Murphy, and harmonic player Junior 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:22.179 Parker. Wow, some lineup. Seriously. This marks 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:25.179 a crucial step in formalizing his musical enterprise 00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:27.940 beyond just playing with others. He was now a 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:30.600 bandleader, shaping his own sound and vision. 00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:34.200 And to expand his reach even further, radio station 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:37.360 KWAM in West Memphis began broadcasting his live 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:39.899 performances, a powerful tool for building a 00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:42.659 local following back then. Big deal. Huge. He 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:44.720 also occasionally sat in with Sonny Boy Williamson 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:48.379 II on KFFA in Alina, Arkansas, broadening his 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:50.940 local exposure and honing his craft even more, 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:53.100 connecting with other giants of the blues. Okay, 00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:56.120 so with his band formed and his sound really 00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:58.879 growing, we've arrived at a truly defining chapter. 00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:02.759 The big time. Exactly. This is where Howlin' 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:05.480 Wolf's sound just exploded from regional popularity 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:08.079 to a national and eventually international force, 00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:10.180 truly helping to shape the electric glues as 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:12.579 we know it. The story of his discovery, kind 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:15.079 of typical of the era, is legendary. In 1951, 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:17.240 a 19 -year -old freelance talent scout named 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:19.829 Ike Turner. Yep, that Ike Turner. Already, a 00:17:19.829 --> 00:17:22.109 formidable musician himself heard Howlin' Wolf 00:17:22.109 --> 00:17:26.009 perform in West Memphis. This encounter was absolutely 00:17:26.009 --> 00:17:28.390 pivotal, a true turning point that would redirect 00:17:28.390 --> 00:17:31.049 the course of blues history. It was a total game 00:17:31.049 --> 00:17:34.089 changer. Turner quickly brought Wolf to record 00:17:34.089 --> 00:17:36.190 for Sam Phillips at Memphis Recording Service, 00:17:36.569 --> 00:17:38.289 which, of course, would later become the iconic 00:17:38.289 --> 00:17:41.190 Sun Studio, and also for the Beharie Brothers 00:17:41.190 --> 00:17:46.049 at Modern Records. Phillips, a man with an incredible 00:17:46.049 --> 00:17:50.200 ear for raw talent. was just utterly captivated 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:54.160 by Wolf's intensity. He famously said, God, would 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:56.039 it be worth on film to see the fervor in that 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:58.279 man's face when he sang? His eyes would light 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:00.140 up, you'd see the veins come out on his neck, 00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:02.359 and buddy, there was nothing on his mind but 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:06.390 that song. He sang with his damn soul. Wow, what 00:18:06.390 --> 00:18:09.289 a quote. Isn't it? Yeah. That captures the visceral, 00:18:09.410 --> 00:18:11.869 almost spiritual power of Howlin' Wolf's performance. 00:18:12.009 --> 00:18:14.049 You can just feel the energy he commanded. You 00:18:14.049 --> 00:18:16.210 really can. You can almost see him there in that 00:18:16.210 --> 00:18:18.670 studio, just pouring everything he had into those 00:18:18.670 --> 00:18:20.890 early recordings. Howlin' Wolf quickly became 00:18:20.890 --> 00:18:23.849 a local celebrity in Memphis, a powerhouse. His 00:18:23.849 --> 00:18:26.329 first singles, Moanin' at Midnight and How Many 00:18:26.329 --> 00:18:29.009 More Years, were released on chess records, while 00:18:29.009 --> 00:18:31.410 others, like Riding in the Moonlight, came out 00:18:31.410 --> 00:18:34.390 on Modern's RPM records. He was hot property. 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:37.680 two labels vying for his singular talent, which 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:40.099 is a testament to his immediate impact. And that 00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:42.079 competition, it resolved itself pretty quickly, 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:44.640 showcasing the shrewd business sense of the Chess 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:49.079 Brothers. In December 1951, Leonard Chess successfully 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:52.660 secured Howlin' Wolf's exclusive contract. At 00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:55.720 Chess's urging, Wolf made the momentous decision 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:59.319 to relocate to Chicago in late 1952. Big move. 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:02.500 Huge. This move wasn't just a change of address. 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:05.839 It was a fundamental geographical and stylistic 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:08.420 shift that would define the very sound of electric 00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:11.940 blues. Chicago became the new home for his powerful 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:14.440 electrified sound where it could truly flourish 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:17.140 in that bustling urban environment. Once in Chicago, 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:19.220 Wolf didn't just show up and expect things to 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:21.519 happen. He immediately set about assembling an 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:23.799 all -star band, really demonstrating his leadership 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:25.460 and discernment. Yeah, he knew what he wanted. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:28.319 He recruited Jody Williams as his first guitarist. 00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:32.319 Then, crucially, persuaded Hubert Sumlin to leave 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:35.500 Memphis and join him. Sumlin's style, described 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:38.359 as understated solos and surprisingly subtle 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:40.259 phrasing. Which is perfect for Wolf's voice. 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:44.200 Exactly. It became the perfect, almost telepathic 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:47.099 compliment to Wolf's booming, guttural voice. 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:50.319 That lineup became absolutely legendary in the 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:52.559 blues world, a true partnership that defined 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:54.819 his sound. And this is where we see his unique 00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:57.960 character and that shrewd business acumen truly 00:19:57.740 --> 00:20:00.700 something that really set him apart from so many 00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:03.119 of his contemporaries. Yeah, tell us about that. 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:05.500 Howland Wolf was known for a policy that was 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:07.480 just almost unheard of among band leaders of 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:10.660 the era. He paid his musicians well and on time. 00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:13.579 That alone is huge. It is, but he even went as 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:15.559 far as providing unemployment insurance and social 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:18.240 security contributions. No way, back then. Yeah. 00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:21.240 This wasn't just generous, this was a revolutionary 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:23.980 practice for a black bandleader in the 1950s. 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:27.000 Most blues musicians of this era were systematically 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:30.339 exploited by record labels, by managers, often 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:33.559 dying penniless. Wolf's meticulous record keeping 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:36.299 and his refusal to be taken advantage of made 00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:39.759 him this rare exception, a true pioneer in artist 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:43.220 rights long before the term even existed. It 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:45.579 speaks volumes about his understanding of loyalty, 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:48.420 professionalism, and the value of his own labor, 00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:51.180 a direct contrast to his own early hardships 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:54.140 and the systemic exploitation he witnessed and 00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:56.180 endured. That's a huge point. It wasn't just 00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:58.700 about having money. It was about wielding financial 00:20:58.700 --> 00:21:01.589 independence as the shield against the very forces 00:21:01.589 --> 00:21:04.230 that had marginalized so many others in the industry. 00:21:04.309 --> 00:21:06.690 Exactly. It allowed him to attract his pick of 00:21:06.690 --> 00:21:09.150 available musicians and maintain one of the best 00:21:09.150 --> 00:21:11.990 bands in the business, which directly impacted 00:21:11.990 --> 00:21:14.289 the quality of his sound, giving him artistic 00:21:14.289 --> 00:21:16.589 control. Right. And a key collaborator during 00:21:16.589 --> 00:21:18.710 this period was Willie Dixon. The songwriter. 00:21:19.029 --> 00:21:22.150 Yep. Hired by the Chess Brothers in 1950, he 00:21:22.150 --> 00:21:24.710 became Wolf's primary songwriter, penning some 00:21:24.710 --> 00:21:28.079 of his most iconic tracks. And apparently, there 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:31.359 was also this intense, almost legendary rivalry 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.960 with Muddy Waters, who was another chess star. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:37.299 Ah, the rivalry. Oh yeah, that rivalry was palpable. 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:40.240 Friendly, maybe, but fierce competition that 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:43.740 pushed both artists to excel. Dixon reportedly 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:46.500 used reverse psychology on Wolf sometimes. How 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:48.759 so? He'd introduce songs as if they were written 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:52.039 for Muddy Waters to make Wolf accept them. Wolf... 00:21:51.930 --> 00:21:54.470 you know, with his strong personality and competitive 00:21:54.470 --> 00:21:57.410 streak would often reject songs initially. But 00:21:57.410 --> 00:21:59.490 if you thought Muddy might get it, suddenly became 00:21:59.490 --> 00:22:02.410 appealing. That's brilliant. The great anecdote 00:22:02.410 --> 00:22:04.349 that really brings his competitive spirit and 00:22:04.349 --> 00:22:06.430 proud nature to life, reminding us that these 00:22:06.430 --> 00:22:08.829 weren't just musicians, they were complex individuals, 00:22:09.089 --> 00:22:11.369 right? Totally. So, despite all this behind -the 00:22:11.369 --> 00:22:13.509 -scenes drama and fierce competition, the hits 00:22:13.509 --> 00:22:16.130 kept coming. Throughout the 1950s, Howlin' Wolf 00:22:16.130 --> 00:22:18.910 had five songs that reached the Billboard National 00:22:18.910 --> 00:22:21.069 R &B charts. Pretty impressive for blues back 00:22:21.069 --> 00:22:25.869 then. Totally. peaked at number 10, How Many 00:22:25.869 --> 00:22:28.809 More Years, hit number four, which is a significant 00:22:28.809 --> 00:22:30.950 achievement for a blues track, Who Will Be Next, 00:22:31.029 --> 00:22:33.470 at number 14, Smoke Stack Lightning at number 00:22:33.470 --> 00:22:37.250 eight, and I Asked for Water, she gave me gasoline, 00:22:37.450 --> 00:22:39.519 also at number eight. Those are some serious 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:41.900 chart successes for a blues artist at the time, 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:44.480 indicating his widespread appeal beyond just 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:47.420 regional fans. Absolutely, a testament to his 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:50.400 undeniable raw appeal that resonated with a broad 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:53.039 audience. His debut LP, Moan in the Moonlight, 00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:55.839 came out in 1959, compiling these previously 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:58.380 released singles and really solidifying his place 00:22:58.380 --> 00:23:01.420 as an album artist. But the early 1960s brought 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:03.559 forth even more classics, songs that would become 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:06.319 pillars of blues and rock music. He recorded 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:08.160 many of his most famous songs during this period, 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.519 despite often getting little to no radio play 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:12.660 outside of specialist programs. Right. Think 00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:14.640 about tracks like Wang Dang Doodle, Back Door 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:17.200 Man, Spoonful the Red Rooster, I Ain't Superstitious, 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:19.900 Going Down Slow, and Killing Floor. Many penned 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:22.440 by Willie Dixon. These weren't just hits. They 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:24.779 were foundational texts for future musicians. 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:27.119 And these weren't just blues songs in the traditional 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:29.859 sense. They became blues and blues rock standards, 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:32.619 eventually influencing countless rock bands who 00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:34.980 would discover them later. Exactly. His second 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:37.599 compilation album, Howlin' Wolf, released in 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:41.059 62, even earned that enduring nickname the Rocking 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:43.359 Chair album because of its distinctive cover 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:46.039 illustration. Such an iconic image in itself. 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:49.079 It really is. These records were laying the groundwork 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:50.920 for something much bigger than just the blues 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:53.480 charts. They were shaping the sonic landscape 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:55.920 of an entire generation of musicians to come. 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:59.920 hashtag tag four, global recognition and enduring 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:02.579 influence on rock. Okay, so with these seminal 00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:04.519 records under his belt, let's talk about how 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:06.960 Howlin' Wolf broke out onto the global stage, 00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:09.859 bridging that gap between the blues and the burgeoning 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:12.680 rock scene, truly becoming a worldwide phenomenon. 00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:15.740 During the blues revival of the 50s and 60s, 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:18.039 this fascinating and critically important shift 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:20.700 occurred. Black blues musicians, who had often 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:22.900 been marginalized by mainstream American radio, 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:25.660 found this brand new and incredibly eager audience 00:24:25.549 --> 00:24:28.650 among white youths, particularly in Europe, and 00:24:28.650 --> 00:24:30.690 then eventually back in America too. Right, the 00:24:30.690 --> 00:24:33.109 folk and blues revival. And Alan Wolfe was right 00:24:33.109 --> 00:24:35.950 there, among the very first to successfully capitalize 00:24:35.950 --> 00:24:38.509 on this demographic and cultural shift. It was 00:24:38.509 --> 00:24:40.930 a pivotal moment for the blues, yeah. A crucial 00:24:40.930 --> 00:24:43.829 infusion of new energy and appreciation, and 00:24:43.829 --> 00:24:46.269 Wolfe was perfectly positioned to ride that wave. 00:24:46.990 --> 00:24:50.170 In 1964, he embarked on European tours as part 00:24:50.170 --> 00:24:52.650 of the American Folk Blues Festival. Wow, those 00:24:52.650 --> 00:24:55.369 tours were legendary. They were. bringing his 00:24:55.369 --> 00:24:57.890 powerful electric sound to international stages 00:24:57.890 --> 00:25:00.990 for the very first time. This was crucial for 00:25:00.990 --> 00:25:03.170 establishing his presence beyond the American 00:25:03.170 --> 00:25:06.029 club circuit, proving his appeal was universal. 00:25:07.230 --> 00:25:09.410 European audiences, often less encumbered by 00:25:09.410 --> 00:25:12.190 American racial prejudices of the time, they 00:25:12.190 --> 00:25:14.430 revered these blues artists as living legends. 00:25:14.950 --> 00:25:16.890 And here's where it gets really fascinating for 00:25:16.890 --> 00:25:19.369 rock fans, truly connecting the dots between 00:25:19.369 --> 00:25:23.069 blues and the British invasion. In 1964, the 00:25:23.069 --> 00:25:25.990 Rolling Stones, already huge rock and roll titans, 00:25:26.190 --> 00:25:28.329 already massive, recorded his song, Little Red 00:25:28.329 --> 00:25:30.450 Rooster, and it shot to number one in the UK 00:25:30.450 --> 00:25:33.130 charts. Number one. This instantly highlighted 00:25:33.130 --> 00:25:35.849 the crossover appeal of his material and introduced 00:25:35.849 --> 00:25:38.769 his work to millions of new listeners who might 00:25:38.769 --> 00:25:40.769 never have sought out blues records otherwise. 00:25:41.150 --> 00:25:43.529 It was like a direct pipeline from the Delta 00:25:43.529 --> 00:25:46.329 to the global pop charts, courtesy of a band 00:25:46.329 --> 00:25:49.150 who openly idolized him. And that connection 00:25:49.150 --> 00:25:53.369 deepened dramatically and visibly in 1965, right 00:25:53.369 --> 00:25:56.130 at the peak of the British invasion. The Rolling 00:25:56.130 --> 00:25:59.250 Stones were set to appear on ABC TV's rock music 00:25:59.250 --> 00:26:02.849 show Shindig. Oh yeah, I remember Shindig. Right, 00:26:03.210 --> 00:26:06.779 but they insisted. as a non -negotiable condition 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:08.759 of their appearance that Howlin' Wolf be their 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:10.740 special guest. They insisted. They insisted. 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:13.240 Can you imagine the shock waves through American 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:15.299 living rooms? Here were these sort of clean -cut 00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:17.799 British invaders, essentially bowing down to 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:20.779 this powerful primal bluesman, validating the 00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:23.480 very roots of rock and roll for a mass audience 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:25.259 who might never have listened to blues otherwise. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:27.839 With the stones literally sitting at his feet, 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:31.309 almost reverently. Wolf delivered this impassioned, 00:26:31.750 --> 00:26:34.470 electrifying performance of how many more years 00:26:34.470 --> 00:26:37.710 to millions of television viewers. This wasn't 00:26:37.710 --> 00:26:40.630 just his network TV debut, it was a powerful, 00:26:41.029 --> 00:26:43.970 undeniable moment of cultural exchange, showing 00:26:43.970 --> 00:26:46.710 the world the profound debt rock and roll owed 00:26:46.710 --> 00:26:48.890 to the blues. That must have been an absolutely 00:26:48.890 --> 00:26:51.809 electric and deeply symbolic moment. Talk about 00:26:51.809 --> 00:26:53.990 a passing of the torch, or maybe more accurately, 00:26:54.109 --> 00:26:55.970 a recognition of where the fire came from, right? 00:26:55.970 --> 00:26:58.960 Exactly, yeah. Later in his career, Wolf also 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:01.259 explored some interesting collaborations and 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:03.259 experimentations, showing he wasn't afraid to 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:06.059 try new things, even as his health started to 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:08.740 decline, always pushing his sound. He certainly 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:11.019 wasn't, which speaks to his restless artistic 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:14.140 spirit. In the late 60s and early 70s, he recorded 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:17.119 albums with other established musicians, constantly 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:20.140 seeking new avenues for his sound. One notable 00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:22.920 collaboration was the Super Blues Band in 1968. 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:26.119 What a title. Isn't it? Featured blues giants. 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:30.000 Bow Diddley and Muddy Waters. That was a true 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:33.619 powerhouse gathering of legends, an almost unimaginable 00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:36.240 collection of talent on one record, proving his 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:38.940 standing among his peers. But then came a really 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:41.880 experimental and frankly quite controversial 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:45.299 album, the Howlin' Wolf album in 1969. Yes, the 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:47.779 psychedelic one. Right. This record integrated 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:50.539 psychedelic rock and even free jazz musicians 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:53.500 like Gene Barge and Pete Cozy. It was explicitly 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:55.660 designed to appeal to the hippie audience of 00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:58.519 the time. Or so the label thought. Exactly. And 00:27:58.519 --> 00:28:01.039 it had this incredibly bold, almost confrontational 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:04.059 cover. It proclaimed, in large black letters, 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:06.619 this is Helen Wolf's new album. He doesn't like 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:08.460 it. He didn't like his electric guitar at first 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:11.329 either. Huh. Can you believe that? Chess co -founder 00:28:11.329 --> 00:28:13.609 Leonard Chess himself admitted this negativity 00:28:13.609 --> 00:28:16.369 was a bad idea for sales that completely backfired. 00:28:16.789 --> 00:28:18.970 But it shows his willingness to try new things, 00:28:19.049 --> 00:28:20.869 even if he personally didn't love the outcome 00:28:20.869 --> 00:28:23.049 or the marketing strategy, which is pretty fascinating 00:28:23.049 --> 00:28:25.470 for an artist of his stature. It really speaks 00:28:25.470 --> 00:28:27.589 to the changing musical landscape of the late 00:28:27.589 --> 00:28:32.430 60s and the sometimes misguided attempts by labels 00:28:32.430 --> 00:28:35.519 to adapt classic artists to new trends. While 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:37.900 maybe a commercial misstep, it still demonstrates 00:28:37.900 --> 00:28:40.740 his openness to new sounds, a characteristic 00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:44.099 often overlooked. A much more acclaimed international 00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:46.599 collaboration followed with the London Howlin' 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:49.880 Wolf sessions in 1971. Ah, the London sessions. 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:52.640 Yeah. For this, he was backed by a stellar lineup 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:55.140 of British rock musicians, including Eric Clapton, 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:57.960 Steve Winwood, Ian Stewart, Bill Wyman, and Charlie 00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:01.380 Watts. Basically the cream of British rock royalty. 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:04.980 Dream team. Totally. This album proved more successful 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:07.299 with British audiences than American, further 00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:09.420 highlighting his continued international appeal 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:11.559 and the deep respect he commanded from these 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:14.099 rock giants who recognized him as a foundational 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:16.160 influence. It was kind of a reunion, wasn't it, 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.940 with the students playing alongside their master? 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:20.039 That's a blues rock dream team right there. Yeah. 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:23.880 A testament to his unparalleled influence. His 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:26.240 final studio album, The Back Door Wolf, came 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:29.509 out in 1973. It was composed entirely of new 00:29:29.509 --> 00:29:31.750 material and recorded with his regular stage 00:29:31.750 --> 00:29:34.309 band. It was noticeably shorter, though, just 00:29:34.309 --> 00:29:37.130 over 35 minutes, which was really a reflection 00:29:37.130 --> 00:29:40.009 of his rapidly declining health, which, as we'll 00:29:40.009 --> 00:29:42.809 discuss next, was becoming this significant and 00:29:42.809 --> 00:29:45.609 tragic factor in his life, making every single 00:29:45.609 --> 00:29:48.369 performance a Herculean effort. Yeah, the physical 00:29:48.369 --> 00:29:51.769 toll was immense by then. So beyond the towering 00:29:51.769 --> 00:29:54.470 stage presence and the thunderous howl, Howlin' 00:29:54.470 --> 00:29:57.190 Wolf was this man of remarkable personal discipline. 00:29:57.160 --> 00:30:00.240 and growth. This is an aspect of his life that 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:02.599 truly sets him apart. It really does. He was 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:04.400 known for his disciplined approach to personal 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:07.819 finances, which was, as you said, a rare and 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:10.160 striking distinction for a black bluesman of 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:13.079 his era who often faced exploitation and lived 00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:15.819 hand to mouth. He famously drove himself up from 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:19.140 the Delta to Chicago with $4 ,000 in his pocket 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:21.960 that was a significant sum back then and a testament 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:25.720 to his careful saving and shrewdness. This financial 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:28.299 prudence truly sets him apart, and it's extraordinary 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:30.539 when you consider his early life. Remember the 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:32.519 blues scene and the music industry in general 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:35.599 for black artists. It was notorious for systemic 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:37.920 artist exploitation. Absolutely. Many musicians 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:40.119 of his generation were routinely cheated out 00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:43.079 of royalties, lived hand to mouth, and died penniless. 00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:46.599 But Wolf, despite being functionally illiterate 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:49.779 into his 40s, took control. How did he do that? 00:30:49.869 --> 00:30:51.950 With incredible determination, he went back to 00:30:51.950 --> 00:30:54.349 school to earn a general educational development, 00:30:54.829 --> 00:30:59.190 a GED diploma. Wow, in his 40s. Yeah. And he 00:30:59.190 --> 00:31:01.730 didn't stop there. He then went on to study accounting 00:31:01.730 --> 00:31:04.089 and other business courses. This wasn't just 00:31:04.089 --> 00:31:06.329 about personal enrichment. It was a deliberate 00:31:06.329 --> 00:31:08.529 effort to effectively manage his own career and 00:31:08.529 --> 00:31:10.990 finances, ensuring he wouldn't be exploited. 00:31:11.789 --> 00:31:14.410 He became this anomaly, a savvy businessman in 00:31:14.410 --> 00:31:17.210 a shark -infested industry. It was about empowerment 00:31:17.210 --> 00:31:20.099 and self -respect. in a system designed to deny 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:23.099 both. That's absolutely incredible. A true testament 00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:25.920 to his relentless dedication to improving his 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:28.220 life and protecting his assets. It really shows 00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:30.500 that the wolf was intelligent and strategic, 00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:32.779 as well as powerful, turning his personal challenges 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:35.240 into professional strengths. His personal life 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:37.559 also saw a profound change when he met his future 00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:41.119 wife, Lily Hanley, at a Chicago club. Lily and 00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:43.539 her family were urban and educated, a background 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:48.039 that contrasted quite a bit with the often unsavory 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:50.740 and rough and tumble world of blues musicians 00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:53.700 back then. It was apparently an immediate and 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:56.140 deep connection, a true love story by all accounts. 00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:59.279 He was instantly attracted to her, pursued her, 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:01.700 and according to those who knew them, the couple 00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:04.099 remained deeply in love until his death. That's 00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:07.349 wonderful. Yeah. Together, they raised Lily's 00:32:07.349 --> 00:32:10.049 two daughters, Betty and Barbara, building this 00:32:10.049 --> 00:32:12.309 stable home life that had been so absent from 00:32:12.309 --> 00:32:15.130 his own childhood. And Lily became far more than 00:32:15.130 --> 00:32:17.670 a wife. She was an indispensable partner in his 00:32:17.670 --> 00:32:20.730 business. Oh, OK. With Lily managing his professional 00:32:20.730 --> 00:32:23.170 finances, handling the books and negotiations, 00:32:23.710 --> 00:32:26.230 he became so financially successful that he could 00:32:26.230 --> 00:32:28.829 offer his band members not only decent salaries, 00:32:28.930 --> 00:32:31.769 but also benefits like health insurance. Truly 00:32:31.769 --> 00:32:34.200 revolutionary for the time. That's amazing. This 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:36.480 wasn't just generosity, it was a strategic move 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.930 that ensured loyalty and top talent. That's a 00:32:38.930 --> 00:32:41.509 huge point, and it underlines how his business 00:32:41.509 --> 00:32:44.150 acumen directly contributed to his musical success. 00:32:44.910 --> 00:32:46.930 This enabled him to attract his pick of available 00:32:46.930 --> 00:32:49.410 musicians and maintain one of the best bands 00:32:49.410 --> 00:32:51.769 in the business, which directly impacted the 00:32:51.769 --> 00:32:54.190 quality and consistency of his sound. Exactly. 00:32:54.309 --> 00:32:56.369 And despite his financial success, he was never 00:32:56.369 --> 00:32:59.269 extravagant, right? Famously driving a Pontiac 00:32:59.269 --> 00:33:01.890 station wagon instead of some flashy luxury car. 00:33:02.069 --> 00:33:04.569 Yeah, very grounded. It speaks volumes about 00:33:04.569 --> 00:33:07.359 his practical mindset. And on a side note, his 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:10.299 great nephew, the West Coast rapper scheme, carries 00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:12.859 on a family connection to music today, showing 00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:15.420 his influence spanning generations and genres. 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:18.119 That's a fascinating lineage. However, despite 00:33:18.119 --> 00:33:20.559 his personal triumphs, financial stability, and 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:23.099 artistic achievements, Burnett faced this fierce 00:33:23.099 --> 00:33:25.380 and prolonged battle with declining health in 00:33:25.380 --> 00:33:27.839 his later years. It's a tragic arc, really, given 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:30.859 his immense vitality. It really is. He suffered 00:33:30.859 --> 00:33:34.109 his first heart attack back in 1969. And it's 00:33:34.109 --> 00:33:36.569 this really dramatic incident. His guitarist 00:33:36.569 --> 00:33:40.569 and longtime loyal companion Hubert Sumlin actually 00:33:40.569 --> 00:33:43.890 revived him by ramming a 2x4 into his back when 00:33:43.890 --> 00:33:46.829 Wolf collapsed against the dashboard. A 2x4. 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:50.680 Seriously. Seriously. Can you imagine the sheer 00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:53.619 terror and the desperate loyalty needed to do 00:33:53.619 --> 00:33:55.660 that? What an incredible testament to their bond 00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:58.319 and how close Wolf must have been to death even 00:33:58.319 --> 00:34:01.160 then. Wow, that's an incredibly intense and harrowing 00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:03.759 story. It speaks to the brutal conditions and 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:06.579 the deep, almost familial loyalty within his 00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:09.880 band. Yeah. And just three weeks later in Toronto, 00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:13.039 he experienced additional heart and kidney problems. 00:34:13.820 --> 00:34:16.719 But incredibly, despite the dire warnings from 00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:19.980 doctors, he refused an operation, stating with 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:23.139 that characteristic wolf stubbornness that he 00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:25.619 needed to keep working. Of course he did. This 00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:27.659 just illustrates his unwavering commitment to 00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:30.159 his music and livelihood, even in the face of 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:32.059 serious, life -threatening medical warnings. 00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:34.699 The show had to go on for him. His dedication 00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:37.739 was unyielding, almost superhuman. But fate dealt 00:34:37.739 --> 00:34:40.239 another cruel blow, a devastating car accident 00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:42.519 in 1970. Oh yeah, the car accident? Sent him 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:44.539 flying through the windshield, causing extensive, 00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:46.940 irreparable damage to his kidneys. For the rest 00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:49.219 of his life, he received dialysis treatments 00:34:49.219 --> 00:34:52.519 every three days. A monumental burden, often 00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:55.389 administered by his devoted wife, Lily. at home. 00:34:56.110 --> 00:34:58.610 This was a physical and emotional toll that few 00:34:58.610 --> 00:35:01.550 could endure, let alone continue to perform under. 00:35:01.710 --> 00:35:03.949 Absolutely. His health continued to worsen during 00:35:03.949 --> 00:35:06.690 the London Howlin' Wolf sessions in May 1970, 00:35:07.250 --> 00:35:08.829 which must have been an incredible challenge 00:35:08.829 --> 00:35:11.130 to complete given his condition. Yeah, I can 00:35:11.130 --> 00:35:13.849 only imagine. A year later, he suffered yet another 00:35:13.849 --> 00:35:15.909 heart attack, kidney failure, high blood pressure. 00:35:16.190 --> 00:35:19.670 I mean, the list just went on. By May 1973, he 00:35:19.670 --> 00:35:22.329 was back performing testament to his iron will. 00:35:22.650 --> 00:35:25.170 But his bandleader, Eddie Shaw, had to limit 00:35:25.170 --> 00:35:27.869 him to just six songs per concert. due to severe 00:35:27.869 --> 00:35:30.909 health concerns. Only six songs, wow. Can you 00:35:30.909 --> 00:35:33.250 imagine the sheer willpower, the raw internal 00:35:33.250 --> 00:35:35.789 fire needed to continue performing under those 00:35:35.789 --> 00:35:38.110 excruciating conditions, knowing each howl might 00:35:38.110 --> 00:35:41.050 be his last? Almost unimaginable. It truly is 00:35:41.050 --> 00:35:43.929 a testament to his indomitable spirit, his profound 00:35:43.929 --> 00:35:47.530 connection to his music and his fans. That unwavering 00:35:47.530 --> 00:35:50.329 commitment to his craft, even through such profound 00:35:50.329 --> 00:35:53.789 pain and decline, is utterly inspiring. His last 00:35:53.789 --> 00:35:57.070 public performance was in November 1975 at the 00:35:57.070 --> 00:35:59.510 International Amphitheater in Chicago, sharing 00:35:59.510 --> 00:36:01.889 the bill with other legends like B .B. King, 00:36:02.130 --> 00:36:04.889 Albert King, and Luther Allison. Truly a gathering 00:36:04.889 --> 00:36:07.730 of giants. And what a farewell it was. He delivered 00:36:07.730 --> 00:36:10.300 an unforgettable performance, even reportedly 00:36:10.300 --> 00:36:12.780 crawling across the stage during crawling King 00:36:12.780 --> 00:36:15.440 Snick, receiving a five minute standing ovation 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:18.159 from an audience just deeply moved by his raw 00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:21.059 courage and enduring power. Wow. Paramedics actually 00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:23.039 had to revive him backstage after the show. Oh 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:25.300 my goodness. A vivid and poignant picture of 00:36:25.300 --> 00:36:27.559 a man giving absolutely everything he had right 00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:29.639 up to the very end, leaving every last ounce 00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:32.760 of hysteria on that stage. A truly powerful and 00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:35.179 symbolic exit from the stage embodying the very 00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:39.150 essence of the bluesman. In January 1976, he 00:36:39.150 --> 00:36:41.889 checked into the Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration 00:36:41.889 --> 00:36:44.730 Hospital for kidney surgery. Three days before 00:36:44.730 --> 00:36:47.190 his death, a carcinoma was found in his brain. 00:36:47.630 --> 00:36:50.679 A devastating final diagnosis. Oh, no. He passed 00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:54.559 away on January 10, 1976, at the age of 65, from 00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:57.039 a combination of the tumor, heart failure, and 00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:59.900 kidney disease. He was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery 00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:02.739 Hillside, Illinois, with his gravestone etched 00:37:02.739 --> 00:37:05.900 with an image of a guitar and harmonica, a truly 00:37:05.900 --> 00:37:09.059 fitting, humble, and poignant tribute to a life 00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:11.880 utterly devoted to his music and his profound 00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:14.960 contribution to American culture. What an extraordinary, 00:37:15.300 --> 00:37:17.139 challenging, and ultimately triumphant journey. 00:37:17.980 --> 00:37:20.880 Now let's talk about the colossal, enduring legacy 00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:24.389 of Howlin' Wolf. He is, I mean, unequivocally 00:37:24.389 --> 00:37:26.670 regarded as one of the most influential blues 00:37:26.670 --> 00:37:29.030 musicians of all time. No question. He was at 00:37:29.030 --> 00:37:31.750 the absolute forefront of transforming the rural 00:37:31.750 --> 00:37:34.329 acoustic Delta blues of the South, that raw, 00:37:34.530 --> 00:37:37.829 unamplified sound, into the electric urban Chicago 00:37:37.829 --> 00:37:40.369 blues that became so iconic and influential around 00:37:40.369 --> 00:37:42.570 the world. And the musical transformation wasn't 00:37:42.570 --> 00:37:44.889 static either. It evolved dynamically with his 00:37:44.889 --> 00:37:47.409 bands and his collaborators. His early sound 00:37:47.409 --> 00:37:49.489 with Willie Johnson was described as aggressive, 00:37:49.929 --> 00:37:53.309 featuring, guitar playing that perfectly matched 00:37:53.309 --> 00:37:56.429 his raw vocals. Later, when the more subtle and 00:37:56.429 --> 00:37:59.269 innovative Hubert Sumlin joined, his sound became 00:37:59.269 --> 00:38:02.510 less overtly aggressive, characterized by angular 00:38:02.510 --> 00:38:06.230 riffing and wild soloing, adopting that distinctive 00:38:06.230 --> 00:38:10.079 driving Chicago blues backbeat. This evolution 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:12.880 shows a dynamic artist constantly refining his 00:38:12.880 --> 00:38:15.719 craft, always finding new ways to express his 00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:18.480 core sound within changing musical landscapes. 00:38:18.780 --> 00:38:21.059 And the critics absolutely raved about him, right? 00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:23.699 Struggling to find words that captured his unique 00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:27.099 intensity. Cub Coda famously noted that, No one 00:38:27.099 --> 00:38:29.360 could match Howlin' Wolf for the singular ability 00:38:29.360 --> 00:38:31.940 to rock the house down to the foundation while 00:38:31.940 --> 00:38:34.519 simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its 00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:37.860 wits. Ah. That's a great line. Isn't it? It perfectly 00:38:37.860 --> 00:38:40.340 captures his raw power, his intimidating stage 00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:42.500 presence, and the almost visceral effect he had 00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:44.800 on an audience. Sam Phillips, who first recorded 00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:46.840 him, famously said of hearing him, this is where 00:38:46.840 --> 00:38:49.699 the soul of man never dies. High praise indeed. 00:38:50.280 --> 00:38:53.199 Almost spiritual in its depth, those quotes truly 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:56.860 encapsulate his profound, almost primal impact. 00:38:57.070 --> 00:38:59.909 Wolf also played various guitars throughout his 00:38:59.909 --> 00:39:02.610 career, adapting to the evolving electric blues 00:39:02.610 --> 00:39:06.250 sound, including an Epiphone Casino, Fender Coronado, 00:39:06.349 --> 00:39:10.130 and a Gibson Firebird V. But it's his K -161 00:39:10.130 --> 00:39:13.369 Thin Twin, used in his earlier years, that now 00:39:13.369 --> 00:39:15.329 resides in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 00:39:15.329 --> 00:39:18.010 Cleveland, Ohio. Oh, cool. Yeah, a tangible piece 00:39:18.010 --> 00:39:21.010 of his history preserved for posterity, representing 00:39:21.010 --> 00:39:23.489 the instrument that helped amplify his howl. 00:39:23.610 --> 00:39:26.250 His accolades and honors are just extensive, 00:39:26.550 --> 00:39:28.869 cementing his undeniable place in music history. 00:39:29.449 --> 00:39:31.889 In 1972, in a full circle moment that must have 00:39:31.889 --> 00:39:33.710 been incredibly moving for him, he was awarded 00:39:33.710 --> 00:39:35.889 an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Columbia 00:39:35.889 --> 00:39:38.210 College in Chicago. Yeah, quite a journey for 00:39:38.210 --> 00:39:41.369 a man who started functionally, illiterate, beaten 00:39:41.369 --> 00:39:44.250 for his inability to read. It's a powerful symbol 00:39:44.250 --> 00:39:47.260 of his triumph over adversity. A truly remarkable 00:39:47.260 --> 00:39:49.639 and richly deserved recognition. His recording 00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:51.559 of Smoke Stack Lightning was inducted into the 00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:54.500 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, recognizing its 00:39:54.500 --> 00:39:57.679 qualitative or historical significance as a cornerstone 00:39:57.679 --> 00:40:00.539 of American music. And he's a pillar of the Rock 00:40:00.539 --> 00:40:03.000 and Roll Hall of Fame, rightly inducted in 1991 00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:05.860 as an early influence. Three of his songs, Smoke 00:40:05.860 --> 00:40:08.079 Stack Lightning, Spoonful and The Red Rooster, 00:40:08.440 --> 00:40:10.699 are even listed in the 500 songs that shaped 00:40:10.699 --> 00:40:12.980 rock and roll, illustrating his direct impact 00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:15.559 on the genre. That's incredible. His music is... 00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:18.320 just influential, it's literally a building block 00:40:18.320 --> 00:40:21.519 of rock and roll. He was posthumously inducted 00:40:21.519 --> 00:40:24.340 into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 as musician, 00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:27.820 and then again in 2020 for his comprehensive 00:40:27.820 --> 00:40:30.820 album, The Chess Box Howlin' Wolf, which is an 00:40:30.820 --> 00:40:32.440 essential collection if you want to dive deep. 00:40:32.440 --> 00:40:34.739 A tip. He's also in the Memphis Music Hall of 00:40:34.739 --> 00:40:36.860 Fame. the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, 00:40:37.260 --> 00:40:39.000 and the Hall of Fame in his hometown of West 00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:42.159 Point, Mississippi. Talk about widespread multi 00:40:42.159 --> 00:40:44.300 -faceted recognition across the country. And 00:40:44.300 --> 00:40:46.380 it goes even further, right? Into the fabric 00:40:46.380 --> 00:40:49.099 of American culture, the U .S. Postal Service 00:40:49.099 --> 00:40:51.960 issued a 29 -cent commemorative postage stamp 00:40:51.960 --> 00:40:55.079 depicting Howlin' Wolf back in 1994, placing 00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:57.739 him alongside other American icons. Yeah, that's 00:40:57.739 --> 00:41:00.329 pretty cool. In his birthplace, West Point, Mississippi, 00:41:00.670 --> 00:41:02.789 the Howlin' Wolf Blues Museum opened on September 00:41:02.789 --> 00:41:06.630 1, 2005 and hosts an annual festival, ensuring 00:41:06.630 --> 00:41:08.789 his memory is kept alive and celebrated in the 00:41:08.789 --> 00:41:11.150 very place he began his difficult journey. That's 00:41:11.150 --> 00:41:13.409 great to hear. And to further preserve his legacy 00:41:13.409 --> 00:41:16.090 and inspire future generations, the Howlin' Wolf 00:41:16.090 --> 00:41:19.130 Foundation, a nonprofit, was established to provide 00:41:19.130 --> 00:41:21.869 music scholarships and support blues programs, 00:41:22.349 --> 00:41:24.630 showing how his influence extends into educational 00:41:24.630 --> 00:41:28.750 and community work. He truly left a lasting institutional 00:41:28.750 --> 00:41:31.570 mark. Absolutely. And for rankings, Rolling Stone 00:41:31.570 --> 00:41:34.170 magazine ranked him number 54 on its list of 00:41:34.170 --> 00:41:36.789 the 100 greatest artists of all time in 2011, 00:41:37.289 --> 00:41:39.829 and number 59 on its 200 greatest singers of 00:41:39.829 --> 00:41:43.389 all time in 2023. These are massive honors, placing 00:41:43.389 --> 00:41:45.889 him firmly among the pantheon of musical giants, 00:41:46.070 --> 00:41:48.570 even decades after his passing. And his influence 00:41:48.570 --> 00:41:51.110 continues to resonate in modern music, demonstrating 00:41:51.110 --> 00:41:53.880 the timeless power of his artistry. The experimental 00:41:53.880 --> 00:41:56.239 rock band Swans, for instance, performed a song 00:41:56.239 --> 00:41:58.440 titled Just a Little Boy for Chester Burnett 00:41:58.440 --> 00:42:02.139 on their 2014 album To Be Kind, with lead singer 00:42:02.139 --> 00:42:05.199 Michael Gira explicitly emulating Burnett's howling 00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:08.960 style. This demonstrates that his powerful vocal 00:42:08.960 --> 00:42:11.840 technique and raw emotional delivery continue 00:42:11.840 --> 00:42:14.179 to inspire contemporary artists across genres 00:42:14.179 --> 00:42:16.739 and generations, proving his enduring impact 00:42:16.739 --> 00:42:19.840 long after his lifetime. He remains a benchmark 00:42:19.840 --> 00:42:23.099 for raw, authentic expression. Hashtag, half 00:42:23.099 --> 00:42:25.659 tag outro. And that brings us to the end of our 00:42:25.659 --> 00:42:28.679 deep dive into the extraordinary life of Howlin' 00:42:28.840 --> 00:42:31.039 Wolf. We've journeyed through the incredible, 00:42:31.320 --> 00:42:33.900 often harrowing life of Chester Arthur Burnett, 00:42:34.139 --> 00:42:36.440 from a childhood marked by poverty, illiteracy, 00:42:36.519 --> 00:42:38.980 and profound hardship in rural Mississippi, to 00:42:38.980 --> 00:42:41.480 becoming the towering, iconic figure known worldwide 00:42:41.480 --> 00:42:43.659 as Howlin' Wolf. You've seen how his utterly 00:42:43.659 --> 00:42:45.980 unique voice, his self -taught discipline, his 00:42:45.980 --> 00:42:48.699 surprising business acumen, and his just unwavering 00:42:48.699 --> 00:42:51.179 spirit not only defined a genre, but also broke 00:42:51.179 --> 00:42:53.440 through racial and geographical barriers to influence 00:42:53.320 --> 00:42:55.860 musicians across the globe. His transformation 00:42:55.860 --> 00:42:58.380 of the acoustic Delta blues into the electrified 00:42:58.380 --> 00:43:01.360 visceral sound of Chicago blues, his unforgettable 00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:04.360 almost frightening stage presence and his remarkable 00:43:04.360 --> 00:43:06.619 business savvy, all of these elements culminated 00:43:06.619 --> 00:43:09.699 in a legacy that continues to resonate with undeniable 00:43:09.699 --> 00:43:12.480 power. He truly transcended his circumstances 00:43:12.480 --> 00:43:15.420 to become something monumental, carving out his 00:43:15.420 --> 00:43:17.840 place in history through sheer force of will 00:43:17.840 --> 00:43:21.000 and a sound that just could not be ignored. Howlin' 00:43:21.000 --> 00:43:23.219 Wolf's story is such a powerful testament to 00:43:23.219 --> 00:43:25.739 the idea that true artistry often emerges from 00:43:25.739 --> 00:43:28.280 the deepest struggles forged in the fires of 00:43:28.280 --> 00:43:31.000 adversity. It makes you wonder. What does it 00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:33.980 truly take to not just survive, but to profoundly 00:43:33.980 --> 00:43:36.340 shape the world around you, even when facing 00:43:36.340 --> 00:43:38.260 incredible odds, when the system seems rigged 00:43:38.260 --> 00:43:40.940 against you? And how much of his iconic howl 00:43:40.940 --> 00:43:43.679 was not just a vocal technique, but a visceral 00:43:43.679 --> 00:43:45.960 expression of a life lived with raw intensity 00:43:45.960 --> 00:43:49.260 and uncompromising spirit. It was a sound that 00:43:49.260 --> 00:43:51.280 didn't just entertain. It invited you to feel 00:43:51.280 --> 00:43:53.719 the very soul of the blues, a direct pipeline 00:43:53.719 --> 00:43:56.380 to a man who refused to be silenced. It kind 00:43:56.380 --> 00:43:58.699 of begs the question, doesn't it? How many voices 00:43:58.699 --> 00:44:01.679 shaped by some adversities never found their 00:44:01.679 --> 00:44:04.460 howl. That howl was the sound of a man who refused 00:44:04.460 --> 00:44:07.320 to be silenced, who poured every ounce of his 00:44:07.320 --> 00:44:09.880 difficult past and powerful present into his 00:44:09.880 --> 00:44:13.239 music, demanding attention and respect. It's 00:44:13.239 --> 00:44:16.079 a sound that continues to defy time, a testament 00:44:16.079 --> 00:44:18.780 to the unyielding power of individual expression 00:44:18.780 --> 00:44:21.949 against all odds. Indeed. We hope you've enjoyed 00:44:21.949 --> 00:44:24.349 this journey into the life and legacy of Howlin' 00:44:24.530 --> 00:44:26.289 Wolf and gained a deeper understanding of the 00:44:26.289 --> 00:44:29.070 man behind the legendary Roar. Join us next time 00:44:29.070 --> 00:44:31.469 on the Deep Dive for more insights and fascinating 00:44:31.469 --> 00:44:34.010 stories where we continue to unpack the knowledge 00:44:34.010 --> 00:44:35.769 you need to be truly well informed.