When Hubert was about 10, he sneaked out to the local juke joint and
stood on a pile of Coca Cola crates to see Howlin’ Wolf. Drawn in by the music, he fell through the window and landed
right on the stage. The club owner tried to throw out the underage boy, but Wolf insisted that Hubert stay and sit on the
stage while he played. He later took Hubert home to his Mama and asked that he not be punished.
A few years later, Hubert and James Cotton started a band together.
Howlin’ Wolf heard about them in West Memphis and soon brought Hubert to Chicago. Along with Wolf’s other great
guitar players in the ‘50s, Willie Johnson and Jody Williams, Hubert contributed to some of the deepest, darkest, most
primitive and powerful Blues the world has ever known.
Hubert has been recorded often, both as a leader and as a sideman.
Still.
More than 50 years after his musical career began, Hubert Sumlin enjoys
being one of today’s Blues stars. He gigs as a bandleader all over the world. He’s often asked to be part of all-star
Tributes to Howlin’ Wolf, and Hubert’s playing gives these a direct connection to Wolf, complementing the sincere
homage of David Johanssen and Jimmy Vivino.
Still gigging often while most legends of his age are gone or retired,
Hubert has faced and met the biggest challenge of his life. In the Fall of ’02, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He
had one lung removed, and has been tested to be cancer-free. He not only has already recovered his youthful strength, but
has quit smoking and drinking. Given the chance to continue to make his music, and thrilled to survive, Hubert is living and
performing with fresh fire. “I ain’t through yet!” he assures us, and proves it with every twisted Blue
note he burns on his guitar.
Bob Margolin, February ‘03 | | |
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Cindi paints a portrait of BB King and had it autograph
by the legend
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| Autographed portrait of Tony Coleman, drummer of BB King |
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| "Shotgun Shack" painted by Cindi is located at the Hopson Plantation in Clarksdale MI. |
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| Mike & Cindi in front of Cindi's donated painted of Buddy Guy's "Playing Hands" first in a series |
Cindi has donated several paintings to some of her favorite organizations. The painting above was donated to the
Blues Foundation silent auction that is held every year before the Blues Music Award show.
Behind Mike is the photograph he took a BB King at the Kodak theater. Many of Mike's photos have been Cindi's inspiration
and reference photos for various portraits of blues musicians and others.
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Cindi painted a watercolor of Charlie Musselwhite receiving his BMA award in 2007 he is surrounded by some of his favorite
locations in Clarksdale Mississippi which is home to the Delta Blues. Top left is the Delta wholesale Building which
is featured on one of Charlie's CDs, top right is the Dockery Farm plantation, bottom left is Reds juke joint which is mentioned
in his songs "Clarksdale Boogie" and bottom right is the famous Ground Zero juke joint owned by Morgan Freeman and frequented
by Charlie.
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Cindi poses with Tab Benoit after an evening of great music at Cafe` Boogaloo in Hermosa Beach
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| Tab &Cindi with $1000.portrait |
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| Portrait of Tab to benefit VOW |
Walter Trout takes a moment to say hi to Cindi at the Irvine Lake Blues Festival 2007
Cindi and Rod Piazza at the ABC club in Arcadia
Mike and Cindi pictured here with Sonny Rhodes at the ABC club in Arcadia
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In this series called "Playing Hands" Cindi depicts her favorite blues musicians at their best. This is only the
second in her series there will be more to come stay tuned. "I always pay attention to the guitarist hands as they glide
across the fretboard. Especially since I cannot use my hands I appreciate the gift and talent that they've been given
and enjoy watching them use that gift"
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