Throwback: Happy 114th Birthday, Howlin’ Wolf!

June is another very busy month for music birthdays:

• Alanis Morisette celebrated her 50th birthday on June 1 
• The Rolling Stones‘ Charlie Watts was born 83 years ago on June 2
• One of the greatest singer/songwriters to ever live, Curtis Mayfield was born 82 years ago on June 3
• Al B. Sure! celebrated his 56th birthday on June 4
• The Psychedelic Furs and Love Spit Love frontman Richard Butler celebrated his 68th birthday on June 5 
• The legendary Prince was born 66 years ago on June 7
• Duran Duran‘s Nick Rhodes celebrated his 62nd on June 8
• “Mr. Excitement,” the great Jackie Wilson was born 90 years ago on June 9

Howlin’ Wolf, one of the greatest bluesmen to have done it was born on this day 114 years ago. Songs like “Smokestack Lightnin,’” “Killing Floor” and “Spoonful” have long been blues rock standards — and his work has heavily influenced the likes of Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts and countless others.

Back in 1971, Howlin’ Wolf went into London to record material with a super group of rock ‘n’ roll’s legend day second wave of musicians. The band included Clapton, Wyman, Watts and Winwood. There’s a bit of recorded dialogue in the session in which the blues legend has to slowly explain the song and chord structure to Clapton, because he just couldn’t quite follow. Take that, you goddamn twat!

But more important, happy birthday to a legend! Happy birthday, wherever you are!