<back - 'MEMPHIS' CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE - Charlie Musselwhite seemed destined to be a Bluesman. Born in Mississippi, the cradle of the Blues, in 1944, Charlie moved to Memphis at an early age and became immersed in the city's diverse musical culture. He went to school with Johnny Cash's brother, Tommy Cash, lived down the road from rockabilly legends Johnny Burnett and Slim Rhodes and went to parties hosted by the "King of Rock 'n Roll" Elvis Presley. While Charlie Musselwhite soaked up the music of Memphis with the enthusiasm of a true devotee, it was the Blues that caught his soul. In his teens, he befriended several of Memphis' legendary traditional Bluesmen, including guitarist Furry Lewis, Will Shade and the surviving members of the Memphis Jug Band.

It wasn't long before Charlie began sitting in with his more experienced friends, and establishing a name for himself. He moved to Chicago in the early 1960's and was soon creating a stir on the local Blues club scene. Charlie began to sit in with Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, and Sonny Boy Williamson. Charlie recorded with Tracy Nelson and John Hammond Jr during this time period. His sound firmly rooted in the Memphis/Chicago Blues, and pure Rock n' Roll. Together Charlie Musselwhite and Paul Butterfield tapped a whole new audience of young Rock fans who were drawn to their high-energy style of Blues Harp. In 1966, Vanguard Records took note of his crossover popularity. Musselwhite signed with Vanguard and recorded the classic Stand Back! It was one of the first Blues albums marketed to the Rock audience and, along with his subsequent albums in the late 60s and early 70s, established Charlie Musselwhite as a worldwide touring talent. After he conquered his long battle with alcohol abuse, he began to tour the world and received critical acclaim. Musselwhite also began to record again during the 1980's and 90's for the Alligator, Blue Rock-It, and Pointblank labels. Charlie Musselwhite continues to record and tour to this day. MP3 - HEY MISS BESSIE | TUFF |