Chester "Howlin' Wolf" Burnett (1910-1976) was a Blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player and one of the best know Chicago blues artists. Several of his songs, such as "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Back Door Man", "Killing Floor" and "Spoonful" have become blues and blues rock standards.

Howlin' Wolf received numerous awards In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 51 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time. A recording of Howlin' Wolf was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings at least 20 years old that have historical significance. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listed three songs by Howlin' Wolf in the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll". They are Smokestack Lightning, Spoonful and The Red Rooster. In 1980 he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, In 1991 Howlin' Wolf was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2003 he was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame.

On September 17, 1994 the US Post Office issued a Howlin' Wolf 29-cent commemorative postage stamp.

The Howlin' Wolf Foundation, a non-profit corporation, was established by Bettye Kelly to preserve and extend Howlin' Wolf's legacy. The Foundation's mission and goals include the preservation of the blues music genre, scholarships for students to participate in music programs and support for blues musicians and blues programs.

Sources

• Wikipedia
• Howlin' Wolf Biography, Part 2
• US Stamp Gallery Howlin' Wolf