PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
JB: USA's blues music has always been a major part
of African Americans' music culture, and has gained
national and world-wide popularity.
Historically, blues music was the first music form/style
invented in the USA. It serves as the foundation for all
USA-invented popular music styles.
The Muddy Waters blues band was the originator of the
"Chicago Sound" (using amplified guitars and amplified
harmonica).
In this article, my words are (in parenthesis).
This article was written by Pete Sheridan, a
professional blues musician (harp, guitar and
mandolin), teacher and writer, whose articles &
comments have appeared in Living Blues Magazine,
Guitar Player Magazine, Blues Access Magazine,
and the Guitar Player Book.
This article was first published in the American
Harmonica News Magazine (AHN), December
2001 issue.
SHERIDAN:
In response to inquiries from several of my
students and other players, I did intensive
research on this subject.
The following is a list of the harp players who
held down the harp chair in the various line-ups
of the Muddy Waters Band over the years.
Dates are approximate in some instances, but,
as accurate as records allow, according to the
results of my research.
In particular, 1967 seems to have been a time
of short term of "musical chairs", with George
Buford and Walter Horton staying only for
short periods.
Willie Foster was a part-time player for Muddy,
as he had his own group in St. Louis, and often
played with Muddy on road gigs, when the regular
band (Muddy's) was back in Chicago, playing
without him.
Willie was also an emergency substitute (in Muddy's
band) for Henry Strong, who was stabbed to
death by Henry's girlfriend.
He (Henry) died in the backseat of Muddy's car,
on the way to the hospital. According to Little
Walter , "she only meant to cut him" (Henry).
Henry never recorded with Muddy.
Continued in Part Two.
JB
