Earl's World | Chicago Defender

Fans remember the name and blues legacy of Howlin’ Wolf whose life was spent in Chicago after relocating here from Mississippi.

The famous blues vocalist will be celebrated at the Chicago Blues Festive June 11-13 for what would have been his 100th birthday. He was recognized, sang and recorded as Howlin’ Wolf, but he was born Chester Arthur Burnett on June 10, 1910 in West Station, Miss. Howlin’ Wolf died January 10, 1976 at the age of 65 in Hines, Illinois.

During Blues Fest, to be held in Grant Park, other blues musicians will pay tribute to Wolf as a tremendous musician, songwriter and a gifted vocalist who played the guitar and harmonica. Howlin’ Wolf recorded on the Chess record label and among his many friends, Hubert Sumlin and Willie Dixon were his closest.

The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest of its kind in the nation, according to the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office of Special Events, which hosts the annual festival. Blues fest is the biggest of the city’s yearly free music festivals.

For three days from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. beginning Friday, Grant Park will vibrate with various styles of the down-home music featuring the various styles of blues musicians including Jimmy Dawkins, Taildragger, George Brock, Henry and CafΘ’ R&B.

The Gibson Guitar Crossroad stage will feature Dave Weld, Mary Lane and Grady Champion. THE MISSISSIPPI STAGE will rock Friday with Howlin’ Wolf’s musical style and others such as Sam Lay, Joe Filsko, Otis Taylor, James Cotton, and Matt “Guitar’ Murphy, Grady Champion, Stevie J and the Slues Eruption and a Mississippi Jam.

THE PETRILLO STAGE features the Howlin’ Wolf alumni including Eddie Shaw with Jody Williams, Henry Gray, Abb Locke, Corky Siegel and special guest Hubert Sumlin and ends with Zora Young’s Tribute to Wolf and Sunnyland.

FRONT PORCH on Saturday features Ramblin’ Rose, Bobby Dixon Blues Band, Nora Jean Wallace, Andre Williams, Johnny and DestinyRaw.

For more information call 312-744-3316.