I just can't believe I saw this man play live, for free, in Henderson Kentucky...It is a travesty that Hubert Sumlin is not in the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame with all the players that he has influenced through the generations..."lil red rooster", "back door man", "spoonful," "killing floor", "wang dang doodle", "how many more years", "evil", "smokestack lightnin" , or "shake for me" ring a bell? That's Hubert Sumlin on guitar...
There is simply not a rock guitarist worth their salt that hasn't been influenced by the man..."a true legend of the blues Hubert was born in Greenwood Mississippi and as a boy he was awed by the great blues players he heard live, like Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Charlie Patton, and the great Son House. Howling Wolf brought Hubert to Chicago and the rest as they say is history. Hubert contributed some of the most memorable blues guitar breaks ever heard on his Chess recordings with Howling Wolf in the 50's and 60's. Hubert has inspired generations of blues guitarist. Artist as diverse as Carl Perkins, Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones have sought Hubert out as a direct connection to the roots of the electric blues guitar..."
The man is 80+ years old, has had one lung removed due to cancer, and here he was with the heat index registering at 100+ degrees, playing to the faithful. Do you think he was doing it for the money? Or do you think he was doing it because it is what he loves to do? When he came onstage the crowd stood up and surged forward to see this one of a kind blues legend up close and personal. Thanks WC Handy organizers for bringing an artist of this stature to the festival this year.
Now playing: Howlin' Wolf - Spoonful
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