McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 – April 30, 1983) known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician who was an important figure in the post-war blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago blues"
He got the nickname "Muddy" at an early age because he loved to play in the muddy water of a nearby creek.
Muddy Waters grew up on Stovall Plantation near Clarksdale, Mississippi, and by age 17 was playing the guitar and the harmonica, emulating the local blues artists Son House and Robert Johnson.
In 1943, he moved to Chicago to become a full-time professional musician and signed for Chess Records. His friend Howlin' Wolf moved to Chicago in 1954 and the "legendary rivalry" with Muddy Waters began. In 1958, he traveled to England, laying the foundations of the resurgence of interest in the blues there.
From 1977 to 1981, blues musician Johnny Winter, who had idolized Muddy Waters since childhood and who had become a friend, produced four albums of his, Hard Again (1977), I'm Ready (1978) and King Bee (1981), and the live album Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live (1979). The albums were critical and commercial successes, with all but King Bee winning a Grammy. Hard Again has been especially praised by critics, who have tended to describe it as his comeback album.
He met his second wife Marva Jean Brooks in Florida and Eric Clapton served as best man at their wedding in 1979.
The British band The Rolling Stones named themselves after Muddy Waters' 1950 song "Rollin' Stone".
Muddy Waters died in his sleep from heart failure, at his home on April 30, 1983.
He got the nickname "Muddy" at an early age because he loved to play in the muddy water of a nearby creek.
Muddy Waters grew up on Stovall Plantation near Clarksdale, Mississippi, and by age 17 was playing the guitar and the harmonica, emulating the local blues artists Son House and Robert Johnson.
In 1943, he moved to Chicago to become a full-time professional musician and signed for Chess Records. His friend Howlin' Wolf moved to Chicago in 1954 and the "legendary rivalry" with Muddy Waters began. In 1958, he traveled to England, laying the foundations of the resurgence of interest in the blues there.
From 1977 to 1981, blues musician Johnny Winter, who had idolized Muddy Waters since childhood and who had become a friend, produced four albums of his, Hard Again (1977), I'm Ready (1978) and King Bee (1981), and the live album Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live (1979). The albums were critical and commercial successes, with all but King Bee winning a Grammy. Hard Again has been especially praised by critics, who have tended to describe it as his comeback album.
He met his second wife Marva Jean Brooks in Florida and Eric Clapton served as best man at their wedding in 1979.
The British band The Rolling Stones named themselves after Muddy Waters' 1950 song "Rollin' Stone".
Muddy Waters died in his sleep from heart failure, at his home on April 30, 1983.