Lemuria Reads Mississippians: Howlin’ Wolf
On April 12, 1973, at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, (my first jazz fest), I heard and saw 300 pounds of heavenly joy. Howlin’ Wolf, though ailing, worked his magic which still lives for me 37 years later. His gripping voice, primal and nasty, rocked my house. Wolf’s passion transferred his presence into my world and still moves me today.
His mystery still lives for me when I hear such greats as “Back Door Man,” “Evil,” “Smoke Stack Lighting” and the relentless “Red Rooster.”
Remembering April 12th, 1973, I’m surrounded by how important of an evening this was for me. I can say it was truly life-changing. Wolf’s stage presence was accentuated by other performances, my first for Como Drum and Fife Corp, The Mardi Gras Indians, Taj Mahal and Albert King, another immortal. It was a night of a lifetime.
The 15th Annual Howlin’ Wolf Memorial Blues Festival starts this Friday, Sept. 3rd. Click here for more details.
Click here to see all of “Lemuria Reads Mississippians.”
Editor Neil White will be signing at Lemuria on Thursday, October 28th.
Reserve your copy online or call the bookstore 601/800.366.7619.
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Written by John
3 responses so far ↓
Follow this link to read an article in the Clarion Ledger by Scott Barretta about The Howlin’ Wolf Memorial Festival.
2 Jeanie Clinton // Sep 2, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Will do, Lisa. Thanks for the tip. Great rememberance, Johnny. I wish I’d seen The Wolf live. I missed him. But, I am glad I got to see Muddy in Nashville.
3 Mark Hoffman // Sep 6, 2010 at 3:57 pm
John, thanks for the great post about Wolf in NOLA, and the article about our Wolf biography! I’ve got a CD of that Wolf show in NOLA. If you want a copy, please email me. Take care, and thanks for remembering the great Wolf!
-Mark Hoffman, co-author of “Moanin’ at Midnight: The Life and Times of Howlin’ Wolf”
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