Influential blues man and well known as Howlin’ Wolf’s guitar player, Hubert Sumlin, dies of heart failure at the age of 80 in Wayne, N.J.
For years, big names like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Frank Zappa, Eric Clapton and many others looked up to Sumlin’s Chicago blues style for inspiration.
Hubert Sumlin is known mostly for his work with Howlin’ Wolf from 1954 to 1976. This is where Sumlin’s licks with his distinctive fingerstyle technique and tone became renowned. Killing Floor and Red Rooster are just a few of the many songs, now considered as blues classics, that Sumlin played on. Countless guitarists have since tried to copy his exciting and flamboyant playing, which includes players that rose to fame in the rock and blues genre.
After Wolf’s Death, Hubert Sumlin continued on with other members of Howlin’ Wolf’s band which was renamed “The Wolf Pack”. Sumlin also pursued a solo career where he recorded a number of albums. Some of his works got him Grammy nominations, and won him multiple Blues Music Awards. His final solo album was entitled “About Them Shoes” which was released in 2004.
In 2008, Hubert was finally given his due honor by being inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame. He may have passed away but his style and guitar playing lives on in the hands of the current generation of blues guitar players.
Here is a video showcasing Hubert Sumlin’s unique style and note bursts:
Hubert Sumlin died on December 4, 2011 of heart failure in a Hospital in Wayne, New Jersey.
A special memorial is currently up on Hubert Sumlin’s site, and you can also see various musicians discussing Hubert Sumlin’s influence and passing in Facebook.