Muddy WatersMuddy Waters

By: Carolynn Zidek By: Carolynn Zidek

Katherine MorrisonKatherine Morrison

Muddy Waters ChildhoodMuddy Waters Childhood

Born April 4Born April 4thth 1915 in Rolling Fork 1915 in Rolling Fork MississippiMississippi

McKinley Morganfield later nicknamed McKinley Morganfield later nicknamed Muddy Waters for his enjoyment of Muddy Waters for his enjoyment of playing in muddy creeks as a childplaying in muddy creeks as a child

Mother died when he was three and Mother died when he was three and was then raised by his grandmother in was then raised by his grandmother in Clarksdale Mississippi Clarksdale Mississippi

Where it all started Where it all started

Learned to sing while working in the Learned to sing while working in the cotton fieldscotton fields

At age seven he learned to play the At age seven he learned to play the harmonica, at seventeen he learned harmonica, at seventeen he learned to play the guitarto play the guitar

Thereafter, began performing with Thereafter, began performing with friends at local eventsfriends at local events

Inspired by Son House and Robert Inspired by Son House and Robert JohnsonJohnson

Muddy Waters playing with Muddy Waters playing with friendsfriends

1940’s1940’s

Muddy was recorded for the first time in Muddy was recorded for the first time in 1941 by the Library of Congress field 1941 by the Library of Congress field collectors collectors

Left the Delta and moved to Chicago in Left the Delta and moved to Chicago in 19431943

Broke into the blues scene by playing Broke into the blues scene by playing acoustic guitar behind John Lee Williamson acoustic guitar behind John Lee Williamson “sonny boy” “sonny boy”

1944 teamed up Jimmy Rogers, Claude 1944 teamed up Jimmy Rogers, Claude Smith, Eddie Boyd and Sunnyland SlimSmith, Eddie Boyd and Sunnyland Slim

1940’s…1940’s…

Recorded by Columbia Records in Recorded by Columbia Records in 1946 but not released till 19711946 but not released till 1971

Waters and Sunnyland Slim’s Waters and Sunnyland Slim’s recorded and released “I cant be recorded and released “I cant be satisfied” and “feel like going home” satisfied” and “feel like going home” in 1948in 1948

Entire stock sold out in less than a Entire stock sold out in less than a dayday

1950’s 1950’s

1950 recorded “Louisiana Blues” 1950 recorded “Louisiana Blues” which established Chess Records and which established Chess Records and was his first national R&B hitwas his first national R&B hit

In 1958 Chess Records released his In 1958 Chess Records released his debut album The Best of Muddy debut album The Best of Muddy WatersWaters

Toured England in 1958 which Toured England in 1958 which brought him new audiences brought him new audiences

The Best of Muddy WatersThe Best of Muddy Waters Just Want To Make Love To Just Want To Make Love To

YouYou Long Distance Call Long Distance Call Louisiana BluesLouisiana Blues Honey BeeHoney Bee Rolling StoneRolling Stone I'm ReadyI'm Ready Hoochie Coochie ManHoochie Coochie Man She Loves MeShe Loves Me I Want You To Love MeI Want You To Love Me Standing Around CryingStanding Around Crying Still A FoolStill A Fool I Can't Be Satisfied I Can't Be Satisfied

(Compilation (Compilation

1960’s1960’s In 1960 recorded a live album: In 1960 recorded a live album:

Muddy Waters at Newport Muddy Waters at Newport Chess Records promotes Waters as a Chess Records promotes Waters as a

Folk Blues artistFolk Blues artistReleased Released Fathers and Sons, They Call Fathers and Sons, They Call

Me Muddy Waters Me Muddy Waters and and The London The London Muddy Waters sessionsMuddy Waters sessions

1970’s1970’s

Left Chess Records and signed with Left Chess Records and signed with Blue Sky RecordsBlue Sky Records

Waters toured throughout the 70’s Waters toured throughout the 70’s Preformed at the White House for Preformed at the White House for

President Jimmy CarterPresident Jimmy CarterWaters received critical and Waters received critical and

commercial success throughout the commercial success throughout the 70’s 70’s

1980’s 1980’s

In 1980 was inducted In 1980 was inducted into the Blues into the Blues Foundation Hall of FameFoundation Hall of Fame

Waters final public Waters final public performance was at the performance was at the Eric Clapton show in Eric Clapton show in 19821982

In 1983 at the age of In 1983 at the age of 68, Muddy Waters died 68, Muddy Waters died of a heart attack in his of a heart attack in his sleep sleep

1987 he was elected to 1987 he was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall the Rock and Roll Hall of Fameof Fame

Waters AwardsWaters Awards

GRAMMY AWARDS:GRAMMY AWARDS: 1971 1971 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL

RECORDING RECORDING THEY CALL ME MUDDY THEY CALL ME MUDDY WATERSWATERS

1972 1972 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL RECORDING RECORDING THE LONDON MUDDY THE LONDON MUDDY WATERS SESSIONWATERS SESSION

1975 1975 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL RECORDING RECORDING THE MUDDY WATERS THE MUDDY WATERS WOODSTOCK ALBUMWOODSTOCK ALBUM

1977 1977 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL RECORDING RECORDING HARD AGAINHARD AGAIN

1978 1978 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL RECORDING RECORDING I'M READYI'M READY

1979 1979 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL RECORDINGRECORDINGMUDDY MUDDY "MISSISSIPPI" "MISSISSIPPI" WATERS LIVEWATERS LIVE

1992 1992 LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARDLIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD 1998 1998 HALL OF FAME HALL OF FAME (I'M YOUR) (I'M YOUR)

HOOCHIE COOCHIE MANHOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN

Awards Cont.Awards Cont.

W.C. HANDY BLUES W.C. HANDY BLUES AWARDS:AWARDS:

1983 1983 SINGLE OF THE YEAR SINGLE OF THE YEAR GOT GOT MY MOJO WORKINGMY MOJO WORKING

1985 1985 REISSUE ALBUM OF THE REISSUE ALBUM OF THE YEAR YEAR THE CHESS BOXTHE CHESS BOX

1985 1985 REISSUE ALBUM OF THE REISSUE ALBUM OF THE YEAR YEAR RARE AND UNISSUEDRARE AND UNISSUED

1990 1990 REISSUE ALBUM OF THE REISSUE ALBUM OF THE YEAR YEAR THE CHESS BOXTHE CHESS BOX

1994 1994 REISSUE ALBUM OF THE REISSUE ALBUM OF THE YEAR YEAR THE COMPLETE THE COMPLETE PLANTATION RECORDINGSPLANTATION RECORDINGS

1995 1995 REISSUE ALBUM OF THE REISSUE ALBUM OF THE YEAR YEAR ONE MORE MILEONE MORE MILE

DOWN BEAT MAGAZINE:DOWN BEAT MAGAZINE: 1968 1968 CRITICS POLL AWARD CRITICS POLL AWARD

BEST BLUES GROUPBEST BLUES GROUP 1969 1969 CRITICS POLL AWARD CRITICS POLL AWARD

BEST BLUES GROUPBEST BLUES GROUP

Photos of Muddy Waters

Muddy Water’s Music StyleMuddy Water’s Music Style

Mastered “bottleneck” style of Delta guitarMastered “bottleneck” style of Delta guitar This technique allowed him to utilize the guitar as a This technique allowed him to utilize the guitar as a

perfect extension of his voiceperfect extension of his voice Waters added incorporate new instrumental sounds Waters added incorporate new instrumental sounds

and textures, such as the harmonica and bassand textures, such as the harmonica and bass Later in Waters career he moved to the electric guitarLater in Waters career he moved to the electric guitar Started as a popular club performer to most Started as a popular club performer to most

influential recording artist in the new amplified blues influential recording artist in the new amplified blues idiom moving to fundamental approaches and usages idiom moving to fundamental approaches and usages of modern blues of modern blues

Waters style since has been extended, fragmented Waters style since has been extended, fragmented and elaborated but still retains the powerful sound of and elaborated but still retains the powerful sound of postwar bulespostwar bules

Summary Summary

Muddy Waters dominated the music and led the Muddy Waters dominated the music and led the way in style, sound, repertoire and way in style, sound, repertoire and instrumentationinstrumentation

He was considered one of the greatest blues He was considered one of the greatest blues artist of all times artist of all times

According to Pete Welding “America lost one of According to Pete Welding “America lost one of the greatest, most influential and enduringly the greatest, most influential and enduringly important musicians of the century, one who had important musicians of the century, one who had reshaped the course of the blues, set it on a new reshaped the course of the blues, set it on a new path and, through the influence he exerted on so path and, through the influence he exerted on so many other who followed in his trailblazing wake, many other who followed in his trailblazing wake, completely altered the sound, substance and very completely altered the sound, substance and very character of all modern popular music. “character of all modern popular music. “

McKinley MorganfieldMcKinley Morganfield“Muddy Waters”“Muddy Waters”

APRIL 4, 1915 - APRIL 30, 1983APRIL 4, 1915 - APRIL 30, 1983