Muddy Waters

Date of Birth: April 4, 1913

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: April 30, 1983

Biography

McKinley Morganfield, better known by his stage name Muddy Waters, was an influential American blues musician often cited as the “father of modern Chicago blues.” Born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, he grew up on Stovall Plantation near Clarksdale, where he was first introduced to music through the sounds of the Mississippi Delta. Waters began playing the harmonica at a young age and later shifted to guitar, influenced by Son House and Robert Johnson. In 1941, folklorists Alan Lomax and John Work recorded Waters for the Library of Congress, which paved his way to Chicago. By 1943, he had moved to Chicago and started to transform the local blues scene by electrifying the Delta blues. His growling voice and masterful guitar playing became the hallmark of Chicago blues. Muddy Waters’ band included legendary musicians such as Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, and Otis Spann, further cementing his impact on the genre. Waters achieved significant commercial success and influenced a myriad of artists across various genres, including rock and roll. His notable songs include “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “Mannish Boy,” and “Got My Mojo Working.” Despite facing challenges, including the racial prejudices of his time, Muddy Waters left an indelible mark on music until his death in 1983.

5 Interesting Facts about Muddy Waters

1. Muddy Waters was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

2. His nickname “Muddy” was given to him by his grandmother because he loved to play in the muddy waters of Deer Creek as a child.

3. Muddy Waters won six Grammy Awards throughout his career.

4. The Rolling Stones named themselves after Muddy Waters’ 1950 song “Rollin’ Stone.”

5. He was one of the first artists to use an electric guitar in a blues band setting, which revolutionized the genre.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Muddy Waters

1. “I rambled all the time. I was just like that, like a rollin’ stone.”

2. “The blues had a baby and they named it rock and roll.”

3. “I wanted to get out of Mississippi in the worst way. Go back? What I want to go back for?”

4. “I ain’t gonna be no escape-goat.”

5. “You don’t have to be the best one; just be a good ‘un.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Muddy Waters’ net worth was estimated to be around $5 million.

Children

Muddy Waters had five children: three sons, Mud Morganfield, Big Bill Morganfield, and Joseph Morganfield, who have followed in their father’s musical footsteps, and two daughters, Rosiland Morganfield and Renee Morganfield.