Howlin' Wolf Museum News

Subject: Howlin' Wolf Museum News
From: Tweed
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 02:57 PM

This just in from Wolf country....

Howlin' Wolf Blues Museum to open on Festival weekend.

WEST POINT, MISS. --- The Howlin' Wolf Blues Society of West Point, Mississippi will officially open the new Howlin' Wolf Blues Museum on Thursday, September 1, 2005 at 2:00 PM. The Howlin' Wolf Museum is located at the corner of Westbrook and Mill Streets in downtown West Point. It is a joint project of the West Point Community Foundation and the Blues Society. The grand opening will feature live music by Rev. Slick and Blind Mississippi Morris celebrating the life and music of Chester Arthur "Howlin' Wolf" Burnett. The event is free and open to the public.

Every year the small northeast Mississippi town of West Point honors their famous blues man with a memorial festival which presents top blues talent and attracts many well known people in the music industry. The new blues museum represents an expansion of the Blues Society's offerings and will create an added attraction not only for tourists attending the festival but as a year-round destination for fans of Mississippi blues. Howlin' Wolf Blues Society director Richard Ramsey stated, "We have worked very hard and are pleased to open the museum just before and during the weekend of the 10th annual Blues Festival. We have had a flood of donations by private citizens, the Burnett family, famous musicians, and the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame to prepare as museum exhibits and we are thrilled at the collection of memorabilia. We are very honored to establish this museum in Wolf's hometown and eager to preserve these treasures and share them with the world."

To find more information on the Howlin' Wolf Blues Society, the museum, and the annual blues festival, please visit the West Point, Ms. website at wpnet.org and view the section dedicated to Howlin' Wolf!

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The Howlin' Wolf Blues Society of West Point, Mississippi Inc. is a state chartered non-profit corporation established in 1995. The society may be contacted via email c/o Richard Ramsey [e-mail] or by mail at P.O. Box 1334 – West Point, MS. 39773

Subject: RE: Howlin' Wolf Museum News
From: khandu
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 04:27 PM

Looking good!

I expect to be in attendance, and I'm looking forward to meeting some of my fellow 'Catters and some fellow Tweedblues members there!

k

Subject: RE: Howlin' Wolf Museum News
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 06:08 AM

On the subject of Wolf, I can strongly recommend great book called Moanin' At Midnight, the life and times of Howlin' Wolf by James Segrest and Mark Hoffman published by Pantheon published last year. It is one of the very best blues biographies available and written by guys who have really done their homework. Reading this book took me back to some wonderful nights at the 100 club and the Marquee Club.
If you want to see the man in action there is also an excellent DVD available which includes some great footage from the Chicago club scene.
The man was a giant both physically and musically.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Howlin' Wolf Museum News
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 11:03 AM

All the best to you in this fine endeavor. The man truly deserves this tribute!

I have nothing but great memories of watching Wolf at Big John's, a great blues bar on Wells Street in Chicago--1965-'66 and '67.

He was an amazing singer and presence --- especially when you saw him from 4 feet away after a shot or two of scotch and one or two beers. I was in my twenties. I'd close up the shop where I was the assistant manager at 11:00 PM (The Old Town Folklore Center at North Avenue and Sedgwick) and head over to Big John's, 2 or 3 blocks away.

Tuesday night was Howling Wolf's regular night--with Hubert Sumlin on guitar. Mondays belonged to Muddy Waters with Jimmy Cotton on harp and Otis Spann on piano. Wednesday was Little Walter's when he was in shape to make the gig--not too often. Thursday was either the Mike Bloomfield band with Silver Sid on bass and Charlie Musselwhite blowing harp. Later on, Paul Butterfield's band with Bloomfield on guitar and Silver Sid on bass, Sam Lay on drums. I was there the night Corky Siegel and Jim Scwall's band auditioned. They got the job. (Those two, with the band, are doing a reunion concert in Chicago next month I believe---40 years later.)

I even opened a show for Wolf one night at a small club on Lincoln Avenue that didn't last very long. Can't recall it's name...

But I can see/visualize Wolf playing great inspired harp while laying on Big John's stage in a kind of trance---and sort of dancing while he was laying down !!!! The rest of the band still standing up and wailing away. The audience going crazy for the music. And the smoke-filled, dark bar encasing it all. It was a good time to be a part of that Chicago blues and folk scene --- when the white kids were learning their music from their mentors---the great Afro-American legends who would only be alive until they weren't. Those endings always came way too soon!

No, I'll never forget it!

Art Thieme
(a.k.a. The cuddle bunny of Old Town--as Mike Bloomfield's wife then, Suzy, used to call me---. And Mike would get pissed off.)

Subject: RE: Howlin' Wolf Museum News
From: Wesley S
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 01:45 PM

Jeez Art - Where's my Way-back machine ?? I'm green with envy.

Subject: RE: Howlin' Wolf Museum News
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 03:33 PM

Howlin' Wolf had such an evil sounding voice, didn't he. Perfect for the blues, IMHO.

Subject: RE: Howlin' Wolf Museum News
From: Mark Clark
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 06:29 PM

Thanks for that memory, Art. Yes those were great times in many ways.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Howlin' Wolf Museum News
From: PoppaGator
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 07:05 PM

As I posted earlier today at Tweed's, I sure wish these folks had scheduled their concert for Saturday night of Labor Day weekend rather than 5:00 pm Friday. I live about 4 hours away by car and simply couldn't make it ~ not without taking an extra day off work prior to a three-day weekend, which ain't gonna happen. If the show were on Saturday night, I would seriously consider a road trip with an overnight stay, and so would many other folks living in a wide radius around northeastern Mississippi.

As it stands, the only people in attendance that evening will be locals, the idle rich, and the idle not-so-rich. I was once a member of that latter group, back before mortgages, kids, etc., etc., but those days are gone forever. Gotta keep my nose to the grindstone most of the time these days.

Art, great stories. I had forgotten all about the Siegel-Schwall band!

Subject: RE: Howlin' Wolf Museum News
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 12:00 AM

I'm really gonna look for that Wolf DVD. It has to be pretty fine.

Scaramouche, He had an unbelievable voice. It sure does stick in one's mind. The timbre vibrated your beer mug right off the table! And Hubert Sumlin did that lead picking with TWO FINGERS. That's how I remember it anyway.

Siegel-Schwall's band sounded more like an old blueman with an acoustic guitar sittin' on his porch, singing, and tappin' his foot than any other band back then I've always thought. And when the guys all took their solos, the rest seemed to all be a part of that big BEAT. It was great! Reminded me a a four man version of Sam Lightnin' Hopkins...

I do hope the museum brings tons of folks to town.

Art

Subject: RE: Howlin' Wolf Museum News
From: fat B****rd
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 03:13 AM

Thanks all, I MUST have that book.

Subject: RE: Howlin' Wolf Museum News
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 03:30 AM

I wish I could sing like that!

RtS
(sings like Virginia Woolf- no joke too old...)