Hubert Sumlin
The late Hubert Sumlin was born in Mississippi but raised in Arkansas, just outside West Memphis. In 1954, after a brief stint with James Cotton, Sumlin joined Howlin' Wolf's band and moved to Chicago. He toured with Wolf for two years before leaving to join Muddy Waters, with whom he played for a year. After returning to the Wolf fold, he remained lead guitarist until the great singer's death in 1976.
Sumlin help lead the Wolf band for a while after Howlin' Wolf's passing, but eventually branched out into a long overdue solo career. With the release of "Hubert Sumlin's Blues Party" in 1986 on the Black Top label, his solo career in the U.S. took shape. Sumlin continues to tour regularly, and has played and recorded with James Cotton, Eric Clapton, Eddie Taylor, Willie Dixon, Sunnyland Slim, Muddy Waters and many others. His most recent CD, "Wake Up Call," was produced by Jimmy Vivino.
Hubert Sumlin has always been highly regarded in blues musicians' circles and is an acknowledged hero to many famous guitarists, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Frank Zappa and Keith Richards. Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page once said: "Sumlin is one important person... I love Hubert Sumlin. And what a complement he was to Howlin' Wolf's voice. He always played the right thing at the right time. Perfect."
Hubert passed away in December, 2011 at age 80.
