Muddy Waters was an influential blues musician born in Mississippi in 1915. He learned to play guitar and harmonica as a child while working in cotton fields. In the 1940s, he moved to Chicago and broke into the blues scene, recording his first songs in the late 1940s which sold well. In the 1950s and 1960s, Muddy Waters had several hit songs and albums and toured internationally, bringing blues to new audiences and influencing many other artists with his electric Chicago blues style. He continued recording and performing live until his death in 1983 at age 68.

1. Muddy Waters By: Carolynn Zidek Katherine Morrison

2. Muddy Waters Childhood Born April 4 th 1915 in Rolling Fork Mississippi McKinley Morganfield later nicknamed Muddy Waters for his enjoyment of playing in muddy creeks as a child Mother died when he was three and was then raised by his grandmother in Clarksdale Mississippi

3. Where it all started Learned to sing while working in the cotton fields At age seven he learned to play the harmonica, at seventeen he learned to play the guitar Thereafter, began performing with friends at local events Inspired by Son House and Robert Johnson

4. Muddy Waters playing with friends

5. 1940’s Muddy was recorded for the first time in 1941 by the Library of Congress field collectors Left the Delta and moved to Chicago in 1943 Broke into the blues scene by playing acoustic guitar behind John Lee Williamson “sonny boy” 1944 teamed up Jimmy Rogers, Claude Smith, Eddie Boyd and Sunnyland Slim

6. 1940’s… Recorded by Columbia Records in 1946 but not released till 1971 Waters and Sunnyland Slim’s recorded and released “I cant be satisfied” and “feel like going home” in 1948 Entire stock sold out in less than a day

7. 1950’s 1950 recorded “Louisiana Blues” which established Chess Records and was his first national R&B hit In 1958 Chess Records released his debut album The Best of Muddy Waters Toured England in 1958 which brought him new audiences

8. The Best of Muddy Waters Just Want To Make Love To You Long Distance Call Louisiana Blues Honey Bee Rolling Stone I'm Ready Hoochie Coochie Man She Loves Me I Want You To Love Me Standing Around Crying Still A Fool I Can't Be Satisfied (Compilation

9. 1960’s In 1960 recorded a live album: Muddy Waters at Newport Chess Records promotes Waters as a Folk Blues artist Released Fathers and Sons, They Call Me Muddy Waters and The London Muddy Waters sessions

10. 1970’s Left Chess Records and signed with Blue Sky Records Waters toured throughout the 70’s Preformed at the White House for President Jimmy Carter Waters received critical and commercial success throughout the 70’s

11. 1980’s In 1980 was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame Waters final public performance was at the Eric Clapton show in 1982 In 1983 at the age of 68, Muddy Waters died of a heart attack in his sleep 1987 he was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

12. Waters Awards GRAMMY AWARDS: 1971 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL RECORDING THEY CALL ME MUDDY WATERS 1972 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL RECORDING THE LONDON MUDDY WATERS SESSION 1975 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL RECORDING THE MUDDY WATERS WOODSTOCK ALBUM 1977 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL RECORDING HARD AGAIN 1978 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL RECORDING I'M READY 1979 BEST ETHNIC OR TRADITIONAL RECORDING MUDDY "MISSISSIPPI" WATERS LIVE 1992 LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD 1998 HALL OF FAME (I'M YOUR) HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN

13. Awards Cont. W.C. HANDY BLUES AWARDS: 1983 SINGLE OF THE YEAR GOT MY MOJO WORKING 1985 REISSUE ALBUM OF THE YEAR THE CHESS BOX 1985 REISSUE ALBUM OF THE YEAR RARE AND UNISSUED 1990 REISSUE ALBUM OF THE YEAR THE CHESS BOX 1994 REISSUE ALBUM OF THE YEAR THE COMPLETE PLANTATION RECORDINGS 1995 REISSUE ALBUM OF THE YEAR ONE MORE MILE DOWN BEAT MAGAZINE: 1968 CRITICS POLL AWARD BEST BLUES GROUP 1969 CRITICS POLL AWARD BEST BLUES GROUP

14. Photos of Muddy Waters

15. Muddy Water’s Music Style Mastered “bottleneck” style of Delta guitar This technique allowed him to utilize the guitar as a perfect extension of his voice Waters added incorporate new instrumental sounds and textures, such as the harmonica and bass Later in Waters career he moved to the electric guitar Started as a popular club performer to most influential recording artist in the new amplified blues idiom moving to fundamental approaches and usages of modern blues Waters style since has been extended, fragmented and elaborated but still retains the powerful sound of postwar bules

16. Summary Muddy Waters dominated the music and led the way in style, sound, repertoire and instrumentation He was considered one of the greatest blues artist of all times According to Pete Welding “America lost one of the greatest, most influential and enduringly important musicians of the century, one who had reshaped the course of the blues, set it on a new path and, through the influence he exerted on so many other who followed in his trailblazing wake, completely altered the sound, substance and very character of all modern popular music. “

17. McKinley Morganfield “Muddy Waters” APRIL 4, 1915 - APRIL 30, 1983