Chicago blues legend Hubert Sumlin - longtime Howlin' Wolf guitarist and acclaimed solo artist - passed away today at the age of 80 years old. The beloved elder statesman of the blues reportedly died of heart failure while in a Wayne, New Jersey hospital.
Born in Mississippi, but raised in Arkansas, Sumlin taught himself to play guitar. At the age of 10, he fell through the window of a local juke-joint while trying to catch a glimpse of Howlin' Wolf's performance. The mighty Wolf allowed the young Sumlin to stay and watch the show, beginning a life-long friendship. Sumlin would form his first band with school friend James Cotton and guitarist Pat Hare, and they would perform on Howlin' Wolf's radio program out of West Memphis, Arkansas.
When Wolf moved north to Chicago in 1954, he took Sumlin with him. After a couple of years of performing under Wolf's stern hand, however, Sumlin jumped ship to Muddy Waters' band, but after a year of heavy touring, he returned to back up Howlin' Wolf, which he would continue to do until Wolf's death in 1976. By that time, Sumlin had already recorded several solo albums, so he just continued in that direction, recording infrequently but touring constantly, appearing at blues festivals around the world.
Sumlin won a Blues Music Award for his 2004 album About Them Shoes, which included guest appearances from friends and admirers like Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Levon Helm, Bob Margolin, and others. The guitarist was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2008. Diagnosed with lung cancer in 2002, Sumlin had a lung removed, gave up smoking and drinking, and went back on the road with renewed energy. A one of a kind talent, Sumlin's contributions to the blues are legend. He will be missed by family, friends, and his many fans around the world.
Hubert Sumlin photo by Fernando Leon, courtesy Getty Images
Comments
Wow, this sucks! So many of the old dudes now gone. Especially, these past couple of years. I guess it goes with the territory. He was one hell of a guitar player, in my opinion. R.I.P. Hubert
A sad day indeed. An enormous loss. Mr. Hubert Sumlin will be very much missed. Thankfully, though sadly no longer with us, this great artist has left us a magnificent body of music to remember him by. So few of the great ones left now.
Alfie Falckenbach
Blues Boulevard Records
Music Avenue Group of Labels
Such a talent and great man! He will be missed.
So sad, what a Sweet, Sweet Gentle Man.
So glad that we got a few minutes back stage again to chat together at The Kitchener Blues Festival in Ontario this past Summer.
I know someday we all will find our friend again. If you listen for the sound of the bending Blues Tones, I just know we will all find him at the Big Gig in the Sky.
My heart is heavy today, with much sympathy going to Mr. Sumlin’s family and friends.
Our loss of such a special gentleman is profound. May we all remember and celebrate the life of such a Blues Trail Blazer . Hubert Sumlin , Rest in Peace my Friend.
Man this makes me sad. The link to the old masters is getting thinner and thinner. I am so thankful I got to see Hubert and Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith jam with Bob Margolin this summer. I both Hubert and Willie RIP.
Ah, damnit, just heard of Hubert’s death. He was without a doubt the most approachable, engaging musician, or star or public figure of any kind, I have ever encountered. After a gig in Pittsburgh about two years ago, he happily honored every single request for autographs and photographs, established eye contact with everybody he spoke with, and was polite, kind and naturally outgoing. Personable, funny, gracious, he immediately put each of a small group of us at ease. And as he told the stories he had told a thousand times before, it was easy to see that Hubert loved the life he lived and lived the life he loved. Hubert Sumlin’s gift: A life well lived is a life well shared.