Muddy Waters

Legendary Chicago Blues Musician

Muddy Waters, born McKinley Morganfield on April 4, 1913, in Issaquena County, Mississippi, was a towering figure in the world of blues music. Often referred to as the "father of modern Chicago blues," his influence is immeasurable in the development of electric blues and rock and roll. Waters grew up immersed in the Delta blues tradition and by the early 1940s, he had moved to Chicago, where he began recording with the legendary Chess Records. His signature sound combined traditional Delta blues with amplified electric guitar, creating a new, gritty style that would become synonymous with Chicago blues.