To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Muddy Waters’ death the Blues Association of South East Qld will host a special tribute concert at the Step Inn on Sunday May 4th at 3.00pm. Artistic Director for the event, Paul Renton says:
There are some fantastic blues musicians playing in some fantastic blues bands in South East Qld. I think it would be fair to say that each and every one of them owes a huge debt to the late, great McKinley Morganfield - the world knew him as Muddy Waters.
He was born McKinley Morganfield in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, in 1915. He lived the life of blues cliché folklore, picking cotton on the plantation for fifty cents a day and playing music as part of a trio at fish fries and house parties on weekends. In May 1943, he headed north to Chicago by train, where he met and played with other blues giants such as Big Bill Broonzy and “Sonny Boy” Williamson. After being introduced to Lenard Chess, Muddy began recording some of the greatest and influential works in Blues history, first on the Aristocrat and then the famous Chess label. “I Can’t Get Satisfied” was released in 1948 and was quickly followed by a series of classic cuts mostly written by the great Willie Dixon or Muddy himself. When was the last time you attended a blues gig or jam and did not hear songs such as: Mojo Working; I’m Ready; Hoochy Coochy Man; Rollin’ and Tumblin’; Mannish Boy; or I Just Want to Make Love to You?
Muddy’s slide guitar and vocal genius drew much from his mentors Son House and Robert Johnson and he in turn became a mentor for many of the Blues’ great band leaders. Some of the blues greats who served in the Muddy Waters Band include: harmonica players “Little Walter” Jacobs, “Big Walter” Horton, Junior Wells and James Cotton; guitarists Jimmy Rogers, Pat Hare, Luther Tucker and Earl Hooker; pianists Memphis Slim, Otis Spann and Pinetop Perkins; and drummers Elgin Evans, Fred Below and Francis Clay.
In the 1960’s Muddy enjoyed a popular resurgence courtesy of British Invasion bands such as the Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Cream and Led Zeppelin. These Super Bands, who did much to shape what we know today as contemporary rock, owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Chicago blues that Muddy Waters shaped.
After 30 years Muddy’s tenure with Chess Records ended in 1976. In the same year Muddy reached a much broader audience following his amazing rendition of “Mannish Boy”, backed by The Band with Paul Butterfield on harmonica, on Martin Scorcese’s acclaimed film “The Last Waltz”.
Muddy continued performing right up until his tragic death from a heart attack in 1983. He was 68 years old. To me, Muddy’s great legacy is the structure of contemporary bands of all styles. When he first moved North to Chicago it was necessary for him to amplify his guitar and to augment his band with a drummer, other guitar players, harmonica and keys, in order to be heard above the raucous Chicago night club crowds. This approach was in it’s infancy at that time, and is still the basic blueprint for every blues and rock band since then.
We urge you to come along to see some of South East Qld’s favourite blues artists performing their renditions of some of Muddy’s greatest work. Tickets are $15.00 on the door or can be ordered through Oztix at oztix.com.au or by phoning 1300 762 545. Oztix tickets for the event will attract a small administrative fee. Funds raised will go to pay the bands and event costs, with anything left over going to assist BASEQ’s support of the Blues in SEQ.. For further information on Muddy Waters check out his official site at www.muddywaters.com/home.html.
Please keep Sunday 4th May free and come along to the Step Inn for a great Blues Event!
The (unconfirmed) line-up for the Muddy Waters Tribute Show:
Mojo Webb & J B Lewis
Natural Ball
Black Cat Blues Band
Natural Born Lovers
followed by an All Star Jam
