McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1915 - April 30, 1983) is better known as Muddy Waters. He was an American blues musician and is generally considered the father of Chicago blues.

Waters was first recorded on a Mississippi Delta plantation by Alan Lomax for a series of field recordings for the Library of Congress in 1940. He later moved to Chicago where he switched from acoustic to electric guitar and added a rhythm section and harmonica to form the classic Chicago blues lineup. His bands played on the west side of Chicago before he joined Chess Records as part of its soon-to-be stellar group of blues players.

His influence has been enormous across many music genres, blues, rhythm and blues, rock, folk, jazz, and country. Waters helped Chuck Berry get his first record contract.

His tours of England in the early 60s marked possibly the first time an amplified, hard-rocking band was heard there. One critic retreated to the restroom to write his review because he found the band so loud. The Rolling Stones named themselves after Muddy Waters 1950 song "Rollin' Stone," also known as "Catfish Blues." Led Zeppelin's biggest hit, "Whole Lotta Love," is based upon the Muddy Waters song, "You Need Love," which was written by Willie Dixon. Dixon wrote some of Muddy Waters' most famous songs, including "I Just Want to Make Love to You," "Hoochie Coochie Man," and "I'm Ready."

Other songs for which Muddy Waters is known include "Long Distance Call," "Mannish Boy," and the rock/blues anthem "I've Got My Mojo Working."

Muddy Waters died in Westmont, Illinois at the age of 68 and is interred in the Restvale Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois, near Chicago.

List of songs by Muddy Waters

Bibliography

• Can't be Satisfied: The Life And Times Of Muddy Waters By Robert Gordon, Keith Richards, 2002 - 432 Pages - ISBN 0316328499
• Muddy Waters: The Mojo Man By Sandra B. Tooze, 1997 - 383 Pages - ISBN 1550222961
• Muddy Waters: Deep Blues By Muddy Waters, 1995 - 183 Pages - ISBN 0793509556
• Muddy Waters: Deep Blues And Good News By Dave Rubin, Muddy Waters ISBN 0793565014
• Bossmen: Bill Monroe and Muddy Waters By James R. Rooney, 1991 - 163 Pages - ISBN 0306804271

External links

• The Official Muddy Waters Web Site
• Muddy Waters entry - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Muddy Waters Biography - WC Handy Music Festival
• Muddy Waters Biography - Blue Flame Cafe
• Muddy Waters Biography - Center Stage Chicago
• Muddy Waters article from - Mudcat Café - A Magazine Dedicated to Blues And Folk Music
• http://slate.msn.com/id/2073792