You Blues is proud to present Featured Artist...Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters was born. April 4, 1913. The American blues musician considered "the Father of Chicago blues" A major inspiration for the British blues explosion in the 1960s Muddy was ranked #17 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

He began recording for Aristocrat, a newly-formed label run by two brothers, Leonard and Phil Chess. In 1947, he played guitar with Sunnyland Slim on piano on the cuts "Gypsy Woman" and "Little Anna Mae." These were also shelved, but in 1948 "I Can't Be Satisfied" and "I Feel Like Going Home" became big hits and his popularity in clubs began to take off. Soon after, Aristocrat changed their label name to Chess Records and Muddy's signature tune "Rollin' Stone" also became a smash hit.

Muddy's sound was basically Delta blues electrified, but his use of microtones, in both his vocals and slide playing, made it extremely difficult to duplicate and follow correctly. His influence is tremendous, over a variety of music genres: blues, rhythm and blues, rock 'n' roll, folk, jazz, and country. He also helped Chuck Berry get his first record contract.

The Rolling Stones named themselves after his 1950 song "Rollin' Stone",

On April 30, 1983 Muddy Waters died in his sleep. Following Waters' death, B.B. King told Guitar World, "It's going to be years and years before most people realize how greatly he contributed to American music".

Visit the offical Muddy Site: www.Muddywaters.com

Enjoy

Keith Richards talking about how the Blues kicked off in Britain, along with the Rolling Stones themselves. From the BBC4 show, "Can Blue Men Play The Whites", as part of Blues Britannia. Also features Bill Wyman and Paul Jones.

Sad News In BLUES: Koko Taylor dies at 80; singer was Chicago BLUES icon.

KOKO's official WEB site http://kokotaylor.com/

"Somethings got a hold on me" 1968 TV performance

Tom Dowd was a Blues fan, musician, engineer, producer, physicist, mathematician, and everyday genius. Along with Eric Clapton he discusses how the album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs came together with Clapton, Duane Allman, and Derick and the Dominos.

Filmed at Criteria Studios in Miami, FL, Dowd is shown at work behind the soundboards and reflecting on his memorable career. Dowd, whose creative spirit and passion for innovative technology helped shape the course of modern music, takes the controls behind the mixer relearning the title song Layla 30 years after its creation. From "Tom Dowd The Language of Music."

Mr. Dowd's credits include recording sessions with Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Otis Redding, John Coltrane, The Allman Brothers Band, Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Cream, Rod Stewart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Booker T. & the MG's and countless other musical luminaries.

Born 20 October 1925 in New York, New York, died 27 October 2002 in Aventura, Florida.

One of Tom Dowds legacies is a music treasure chest filled with timeless classics.

Here Eric talks about Johnsons guitar style and approach from the 'Robert Johnson sessions'