Howlin' Wolf

USA, 1951–1976

Chicago blues singer and guitarist, born Chester Burnett (1910-1976), who learned directly from Charley Patton in Mississippi. His Chess recordings, including 'Smokestack Lightnin'', are known for the size and roughness of his voice.

MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced Howlin' Wolf and 11 artists Howlin' Wolf influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Howlin' Wolf?

• Charley Patton — Charley Patton personally taught the young Howlin' Wolf guitar and showmanship.

Which artists did Howlin' Wolf influence?

• The Band — Robertson's guitar came out of Hubert Sumlin's playing on Howlin' Wolf's records, bought in Memphis at sixteen on his way to the Delta with Ronnie Hawkins.
• The Yardbirds — Jimmy Page named Howlin' Wolf as the sound the Yardbirds were aiming for.
• The Rolling Stones — The Stones insisted that Howlin' Wolf appear with them on Shindig!.
• Led Zeppelin — Zeppelin adapted 'How Many More Times' from Howlin' Wolf songs.
• Lynyrd Skynyrd — Howlin' Wolf was among the blues artists Gary Rossington cited as core to the band's foundation.
• ZZ Top — Howlin' Wolf's raw, gritty blues was a defining model for Gibbons's tone and ZZ Top's whole approach.
• Captain Beefheart — Van Vliet built his signature growl by imitating Howlin' Wolf — the Chicago-blues voice at the centre of Beefheart's sound.
• Tom Waits — Waits has named Howlin' Wolf's voice a lifelong model — the growl beneath the junkyard orchestra.
• The Paul Butterfield Blues Band — Howlin' Wolf's raw electric Chicago blues was among Butterfield's formative influences.
• PJ Harvey — Howlin' Wolf is the first name on that list, and the source of the voice she uses when she wants weight.
• The Black Keys — Dan Auerbach came up on the blues — Howlin' Wolf among the electric-blues giants behind the Black Keys' raw, riff-driven sound.