I can still see Hubert’s giant smile as I walked up to him a couple years back here at our Ottawa Blues Festival. He hung out for an entire weekend up here just shooting the breeze with many musicians who idolized him and what he had done for the blues guitar.
Known most for being the ryhthm and then lead guitar player for the great Howlin Wolf in the 1950’s, Hubert is one of the few links to the past of the great electric blues movement – and the little skinny kid always seemed as thankful and unworthy, even when the great Howlin Wolf took him under his wing.
One of the first electric blues guitar players that combined stage presence, charisma and solid mixed rythm and lead guitar, Hubert Sumlin was THE inspiration for many modern artists as varied as the Vaughan Brothers and Eric Clapton to Jimmy Page and the Rolling Stones.
Hubert passed on to join Albert King, Albert Collins, Freddie, Lightning Hopkins and yes, Jimi and Stevie too… man that must be some jam going on up there!
He struggled with health challenges for the last years after taking a stroke that barely seemed to contain him – he still, with the support of those he influenced, was able to tour and share his last years with us.
It could (and should) be argued that the combination of Hubert, Willie Dixon and Howlin Wolf was the baddest, most creative blues band of all time with classics that include “Smokestack Lightning”, and “The Red Rooster” and “Backdoor Man”
You would be hard pressed to see a blues band anywhere that doesn’t know at least one of these classics.
Rolling Stones Step Up To Pay For Hubert’s Funeral
As you may know from reading Hubert’s biographical information, he loved the music (he WAS the music), but had a tough time managing his career and finances…and so found himself just as he had lived most of his life, without a great deal of money. Blues musicians have a tough enough time making ends meet so they can continue to live their dreams, when health issues get in the way it makes things that much tougher.
Today, we get word that the Rolling Stones have stepped up and offered to cover the complete costs of a proper and fitting funeral…now that’s class and paying their dues to one of the early influencers of their music. Good on them…
Sunday and Monday will mark visitation Hubert in Totowa, New Jersey where he had been living with a private funeral to follow on Tuesday in Illinois for
So we continue on, down yet another legendary blues stringer with the sincere hope that others will take up the cause, live for the soul of blues and take over the baton for the next stage of the run…who will it be?
Goodnight Hubert, and god’s speed.
Filed under Blues Legends by on Dec 9th, 2011. Comment. 
I had no idea that Stevie Ray Vaughan had ever met Muddy Waters, until now, most others didn’t either.
Can you imagine the stories they would have and, if a few years earlier, the kind of music Stevie and Muddy may have made together.
Two giants of the blues guitar and blues music in general, equally large in terms of stage presence and charisma, there’s no telling the possibilities.
Take a look at this YouTube video from a photographer who worked for magazines in the past who has some very exclusive photos of Stevie and the great bluesman Muddy Waters:
Isn’t that cool?
Filed under Blues Legends, stevie ray vaughan by on Dec 11th, 2011. 1 Comment.
So tell me, what does Texas put in their water that creates so many great blues guitar players?
Actually it isn’t hard to understand when you visit Austin a see the incredible mix of bars, clubs and street musicians – the question becomes, how can you NOT become a musician.
But then, out of this blues mecca comes what everyone is buzzing about…the next great blues guitar legend? His name is Gary Clark Jr. and yes, he’s the real deal.
He caught the attention of one Eric Clapton ending up as one of the only new guitar players on Crossroad Blue Festival 2010’s line-up – a show certainly to remember up there with Doyle Bramhall II – they tore it up!
Here’s Gary Clark showing his retro shuffle chops with a sweet mix of Chuck Berry, Texas shuffle (a la Vaughan Brothers) and traditional Lightning Hopkins, Freddie King on this version of Shotgun Blues written by Donnie and Hock Walsh of the Downchild Blues Band.
And now for the real test – a slow blues…sounds of BB King mixed with Buddy Guy?
Apparently he is working on a CD that will come out next year – but already generating significant buzz…or as we like to say “paying his dues”
Nice to see that blues is alive and well.
Filed under blues guitar by on Dec 14th, 2011. Comment.
Looking for a holiday gift Christmas idea for someone you know loves blues music or blues guitar?
I know in my case, I would be happy getting nothing else but a blues CD or DVD for Christmas – and for those around you, it’s so easy and quick to order them online and have them delivered directly to you (or your neighbor’s) door.
So, how about some ideas…here is my choice for the Top 10 Blues Concert DVD Holiday Gift Ideas:
1. Eric Clapton: Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 (Two-Disc DVD) – If you don’t have this DVD set already, you MUST have it. Names like ZZTop, John Mayer, Derek Trucks, BBKing, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Lang, Buddy Guy and a suprise visit by Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones fame) make this festival DVD a must have. Look for new comer Gary Clark Jr., Doyle Bramhall II and a Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang, Ron Wood set to blow your mind the most. Jeff Beck shows his amazing technical virtuosity on the guitar once again and we get to watch the definite chemistry between good friends Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton (who by the way gets better each year) . Oh and for you country lovers, there is a dazzling set with Vince Gill, Earl Klugh and Albert Lee…sweeet!
2. Albert King – Stevie Ray Vaughan: In Session (Nov 2010) – It was great to finally see this masterpiece, it had been previously released on CD, but this is one session where seeing is 90% of the value. Watching the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan with his mentor Albert King is touching and powerful all warpped into one. Seeing Stevie, at times lose his confidence in front of King and at times recover to blow him away (think Pride and Joy), there is so much mutual admiration when this session closes you can’t help being touched. Nearing the end of Albert’s career, you can tell he was inspired by Stevie’s pure love of the music and from there on the music these two men make together is legendary. You will not be disappointed – another must have Christmas gift if you don’t already have it.
3. Junior Wells Blues Legends: Live At Nightstage: Master of the electric delta blues and long time Buddy Guy partner, this previously unreleased material is masterfully captured – it really is like seeing him live in front of you. With songs like “Look Over Yonders Wall”, I Just Want to Make Love To You” and “Got My Mojo Working” as well as a special guest appearance by Buddy Guy make this concert DVD especially memorable. Not only is the music great – taken from two different concerts, but there is a fascinating backstage interview with Junior and Buddy Guy that make this DVD a must-have.
4. Born In The Honey – The PineTop Perkins Story – I found this DVD fascinating even though I can’t say I was a huge Pinetop Perkins follower. No denying that he had chops and touring with Muddy Waters puts him right up there near the BIG MAN himself. This package comes with 2 DVD’s, one with great music and the other with some very good interviews with Pinetop himself as well as with those who knew him. What a great man and what a game changer when it came to mixing blues and boogie woogie piano. It is the combination of music and documentary that will make this a great gift idea this Holiday season.
5. Songs From The Road – Luther Allison (Bonus DVD) – As we continue to lose so many of the original blues greats, it was almost as if Luther Allison came and went way too quickly, yet he combined so much passion (think Albert Collins meets Freddie King with a splash of Buddy Guy). Luckily some of his best work was captured on this CD and DVD combination. There are roughly 7 songs contained on the concert DVD including “Cancel My Check Solberg” and “Living in the House of Blues”. An incredible talent that so many people are only today realizing existed before he passed on in 1997. A great treasure with this Holiday gift concert DVD
6. BONUS LISTING – Joe Bonamassa Live From The Royal Albert Hall – DVD – I just had to fit this one in although most of you probably already have this in your collection. Joe Bonamassa is one of the most exciting, blues-rooted, rock guitar players to come along. His beginnings as a child prodigy are legendary and yet he has matured into a very powerful blues guitar player – all of that is captured in this high quality, up-tempo live music DVD from Royal Albert Hall. This concert DVD is exactly the way I like it…95% live music, 5% interesting stories and introductions from Joe (I loved the story about how he dreamed of playing Royal Albert Hall when he was a kid). We also get a blistering appearance with Eric Clapton where the two go toe-to-toe on an up-tempo blues number. A fabulous DVD, get it if it is not part of your collection.
There you have it – my selections for the best Holiday blues concert DVD’s. If you have any other suggestions, leave a comment – some of us may already have ALL of these suggestions already…
Filed under blues guitar, holiday music ideas by on Dec 15th, 2011. Comment.
