Yesterday was a sad day indeed, as we lost one of the last few remaining true blue Bluesmen. Hubert Sumlin was really the bluesman in the dark. He played in Howlin' Wolf's until Wolf died and then started a band in honor of Wolf, using Wolf's old bandmates. The band Hubert created was called The Wolf Pack. Hubert is categorized as having a signature style he had "wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic suspensions." Hubert is ranked at number 43 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time, and favored to use his 1955 Gibson Les Paul Goldentop.
Wolf first met Sumlin when Sumlin sneaked into a Wolf performance. After Wolf moved to Chicago, he went through several other guitarists before containing Hubert to come up and play with him in Chicago. When Wolf died, Sumlin and the rest of Wolf's band formed the Wolf Pack and toured. Sumlin recorded under his own name as well. Hubert was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in '08, and has been nominated for four Grammys.
Sumlin died yesterday at the age of 80, due to Heart Failure. He continued to play almost continuously through all of his sicknesses - including lung cancer. Hubert's last "huge" performance was at Eric Clapton's 2010 Crossroads Festival.
Media:
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/HubertSumlin2003.jpg/220px-HubertSumlin2003.jpg[/img]
Chunky
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZje1XIaP1w[/media]
Killing Floor at the 2010 Crossroads
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM8pjT4rgNY[/media]
Rest in peace, Hubert.
Too many musicians go this year :(
[QUOTE=AK'z;33586031]Too many musicians go this year :([/QUOTE]
Indeed, hopefully Riley B King stays with us for atleast another year or two. I must see him atleast once.
[QUOTE=MrJazzy;33586248]Indeed, hopefully Riley B King stays with us for atleast another year or two. I must see him atleast once.[/QUOTE]You're telling me. I'm dreading the day B.B. dies or Johnny Winter. I don't think the world can be that blue.
He was at Glastonbury this year, as always he's amazing.
Also, I'm just giving a listen to Hubert's "About Them Shoes" it's amazing. Hubert got a lot of guest stars to play, including Clapton, Richards, James Cotton from Muddy's band, and Levon Helm from The Band.
Oh no :(
Trying to imitate his playing when I covered Howlin' Wolf in college was incredibly tough. Amazing player :(
I'll have to get an album of his as a homage.
[QUOTE=Pedro the Fuzzy;33586629]Also, I'm just giving a listen to Hubert's "About Them Shoes" it's amazing. Hubert got a lot of guest stars to play, including Clapton, Richards, James Cotton from Muddy's band, and Levon Helm from The Band.[/QUOTE]
Levon Helm, best drummer ever, and not a bad singer either. I must hear that.
[editline]6th December 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=Dopey Trout;33587468]Oh no :(
Trying to imitate his playing when I covered Howlin' Wolf in college was incredibly tough. Amazing player :([/QUOTE]
Muddy Waters made a nice imiation/tribute song called Howlin' Wolf. It's really good.
Hubert actually played for Muddy in '56 for a short time before returning to Wolf.
I think this dude released an album last decade that's meant to be good. Must find it.
I named the title in reference to one of his albums he released in the 90s (or perhaps it was a 90s re-release?), Blues Guitar Boss. If you want a really good album with a lot of other famous people on it, you can't go wrong with About Them Shoes.
Meh, greatest hits. I listened to "Live at the Regal" a few days ago. DAMN GOOD.
This is the video the Stones uploaded on their Facebook page in honor of Hubert:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILFjY2mbarg[/media]
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