Legendary Chicago blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin has died. Born in Greenwood, Mississippi on November 16, 1931, Sumlin had recently celebrated his 80th birthday with a public appearance. He died of heart failure December 4, 2011 in Wayne, New Jersey.
When reached for comment, EPB blues expert John Siscoe replied:
“So Hubert Sumlin is dead. Though no surprise, yet it is still a shock. He will always be referred to as Howlin’ Wolf‘s lead guitarist but that isn’t the half of it. Better to say that after 1953 Wolf’s recordings are unimaginable without Sumlin’s presence. His searing, sparkling guitar runs always took you by surprise, yet you knew at once who it was. Other great blues guitarists came out of a tradition, but Hubert was an original. A modest man who never sought to be a “name”, he made his art seemingly out of thin air. And, being inimitable, he leaves no school behind him.”
“So Hubert Sumlin is dead. Though no surprise, yet it is still a shock. He will always be referred to as Howlin’ Wolf‘s lead guitarist but that isn’t the half of it. Better to say that after 1953 Wolf’s recordings are unimaginable without Sumlin’s presence. His searing, sparkling guitar runs always took you by surprise, yet you knew at once who it was. Other great blues guitarists came out of a tradition, but Hubert was an original. A modest man who never sought to be a “name”, he made his art seemingly out of thin air. And, being inimitable, he leaves no school behind him.”
