Muddy Waters

John Altman, the world-renowned composer, grew up in a musically rich family and found his own passion for music at an very young age. His uncles (Woolf and Sid Phillips) were successful arrangers, bandleaders and conductors and his cousin Simon Phillips is best known as the drummer for Toto. John played saxophone in several bands growing up with the likes of Peter Green, Jimi Hendrix and Hot Chocolate for whom he served as the groups musical director. Playing as a Studio Musician for several years led to arranging and composing projects including movies such as James Cameron’s Ti

James Cotton learned the blues from many of the greatest artists in recorded history! As a result his style of playing is our link to the early development of the music form, especially those influences in the years following World War II. James was nine years old when he played with Sonny Boy Williamson and later played with icons such as Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bobby “Blue” Bland, BB King and Big Mama Thorton, among many others. His passion for music and his willingness to share his style with others has made him one of the most beloved bluesmen of our time.

Robert Cray walked into his local music store as a kid and dreamed of owning his own Fender Stratocaster. After years of playing the blues, his career took off to the point that Fender approached him to create a Robert Cray model Stratocaster, which thrilled him to no end.  He was also honored to perform with some of the great musicians who influenced him as a young musician, greats like John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.  Robert's recordings and live performances include the styles and songs of his early heroes and, of course, his Stratocaster!  

James “Red” Holloway was an accomplished jazz saxophone player who began his love affair with music while a student of Captain Walter Dyette at DuSable High School in Chicago back in 1942. In his interview, he recalled his first paying gig at 16 with the band of Gene Wright, who later went on to become a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Red’s engaging personality made him a favored side man with jazz players as well as a lengthy list of blues musicians from Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters to Chuck Berry and B.B. King.  Red can be heard on many recordings including those with sing

Casey Jones began his musical career as a Chicago-area blues drummer in the mid 1950s.  He had only been playing a few years when he was encouraged to sing at a gig.  He imitated Little Richard and the crowd loved it.  Soon he began singing in bands around town and gained a reputation for himself.  He drummed and recorded with Muddy Waters at Chess Records. He also worked with Otis Rush, Earl Hooker, and about everyone else in the 60s & 70s Chicago Blues scene. He joined Albert Collins' band in the late 70s-mid 80s and is on several of his records for Alligator. He is also a v

Charlie Musselwhite recalls the day Muddy Waters called him on stage to jam with the legendary bluesman in a small Chicago blues club. It was the beginning of a long and impassioned career in music making. During his NAMM interview Charlie also spoke of his friendship with Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter and the styles of blues he learned from them. During his incredible career Charlie has become a noted studio musician, bandleader and songwriter. His 1967 album “Stand Back” is often listed as one of the most influential blues recordings in history, a fact Charlie is humbled by. “I

John Primer was born in Camden, Mississippi, where he learned to play the guitar before moving to Chicago to play an important role in the city's blues culture. While recording Magic Slim, John was able to contribute several songs to the album.  The success of his early recordings led to gigs with Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. 

Corky Siegel often mentions he had three LP records as a kid that changed his life. The three Blues artists were Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Jimmy Reed. Growing up in the southside of Chicago, Corky formed a trio and began playing in coffee houses and for parties when he was 19 years old. The trio included his longtime friend and musical partner, Jim Schwall. Each Thursday night the group had a standing gig at the club Peppers, where Chicago Blues icons would often join the young men on stage, performers such as Little Walter and Muddy Waters.

Dusty Wheeler served as a medic in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. After the war he attended college all the while playing guitar and giving lessons. In 1979 he opened Dusty’s Guitars in Leucadia, California with just four instruments on the wall and an amp (with two of the guitars and the amp belonging to Dusty)! The store grew as did his lesson program and repair shop. His reputation grew as well and in 1983 he moved up to Oceanside.

Johnny Winter has become an important link between classic blues artists and modern audiences. Johnny’s blues style stays fresh and current while playing the important standards by artists such as Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. Johnny began performing at an early age with his younger brother, Edgar, playing the ukulele and singing. As his career developed and covered live performances around the world and recordings, Johnny never drifted too far from his roots in the blues. The Gibson Guitar Company released a signature model named after the Johnny Winter Firebird V and was a r