Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976) was an American blues singer and guitarist better known by his stage name Howlin’ Wolf. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential blues musicians of all time.
Over the course of his four-decade career, he recorded in a variety of genres, including blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and psychedelic rock.
He also played a role in bridging the gap between Delta blues and Chicago blues.
Born into poverty as one of six children in Mississippi, he had a difficult childhood in which his mother kicked him out of her home and he moved in with his great-uncle, who was particularly abusive.
He then ran away to his father’s house, where he finally found a happy family and became a protégé of legendary Delta blues guitarist and singer Charley Patton in the early 1930s. He began his solo career in the Deep South, playing with other notable blues musicians of the time, and by the end of a decade had established himself in the Mississippi Delta.
Was Howlin Wolf in the military?
Howlin’ Wolf served in the United States Army for two and a half years. For a time, he was assigned to the 9th Cavalry Regiment, which was famous for being one of the “Buffalo Soldiers.”
In 1941, he took part in the Louisiana Maneuvers, the largest military exercise ever held in the United States.
