Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters didn't just play electric blues—he invented the sound that defined Chicago and inspired generations. After moving from Clarksdale, Mississippi to Chicago in 1943, he pioneered the amplified Delta style that became the blueprint for rock and roll. His Chess Records recordings from 1950 to 1958, including "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Mannish Boy," are considered the most important electric blues recordings ever made, directly inspiring the Rolling Stones (who named themselves after his 1950 single). With a career spanning 30 albums and over 1,000 live performances, his influence so far surpasses #2 B.B. King's that King himself called Waters "the father of modern Chicago blues." Waters' sound is 40% heavier and more rhythmically aggressive than the average Delta player, setting the standard for amplified blues.