Episode 10: Howlin’ Wolf

pplpod Episode 10 howls through the life and legacy of Howlin’ Wolf—Chester Arthur Burnett—the towering voice that turned Delta grit into Chicago electricity. We follow his Mississippi roots and formative years with Charley Patton, the Memphis recordings that caught Sam Phillips’ ear, and the Chess Records era that birthed immortal sides like “Smokestack Lightning,” “How Many More Years,” “Spoonful,” and “Killing Floor.” We break down the sound: barrel-chested vocals, keening harmonica, and the knife-edge telepathy with guitarist Hubert Sumlin. Then it’s the ripple effect—Willie Dixon’s songcraft, incendiary live shows, and the British blues boom that carried Wolf’s roar into rock’s bloodstream via the Stones, Cream, and Zeppelin. Clear-eyed, loud, and unforgettable—this is the story of a man who made the blues larger than life.