Blues guitar master Hubert Sumlin dies at 80

Hubert Sumlin was an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist and singer. He was best known for his celebrated work, from 1955, as guitarist in Howlin' Wolf's band. His singular playing was characterized by «wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic suspensions». Sumlin was listed as number 43 in the Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. (Wikipedia)

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^{Photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hubert_Sumlin_1975.jpg?uselang=de}

An unassuming musical genius and one of the most important and influential of the modern era Chicago blues guitarists, Hubert Sumlin earned his stellar instrumental reputation backing the larger-than-life blues legend Howlin‘ Wolf for better than two decades. Although he has pursued a successful, albeit understated solo career for almost three decades, Sumlin’s enormous influence can be heard in the playing of blues and blues-rock guitarists like Eric Clapton, Otis Rush, Jimi Hendrix, and Michael Bloomfield, among many others.

Source: http://blues.about.com/od/artistprofile1/p/HubertSumlin.htm

I met Hubert in the mid-’70s when I was playing guitar in Muddy Waters‘ band and Hubert was with Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang, Howlin‘ Wolf’s band carrying on right after Wolf had passed. I knew and loved Hubert’s guitar playing and so did Muddy — an ultimate endorsement. I was thrilled to meet Hubert, but completely surprised and moved that he immediately treated me like an old, special friend. When you hear Hubert say, «I know THAT’S right, partner!» and see that big smile, you’ll be charmed, and dedicated to him for life. Hubert’s sweet Soul is the special secret ingredient in everything he does, including in his guitar playing.

Bob Margolin

More:

http://www.hubertsumlinblues.com/biography.html

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p537

http://blues.about.com/od/artistprofile1/p/HubertSumlin.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/63rg

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/nyregion/06artsnj.html?_r=1 

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQf5pTzshug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uljcbObxSOQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3qt-qcSjxA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXbsKnk0QDg&feature=related