Blues Legend Hubert Sumlin Dies At 80 [VIDEO]

Legendary blues man Hubert Sumlin died yesterday (December 4th) at the age of 80 due to heart failure.  Sumlin was part of Howlin' Wolf's band, playing lead guitar for him and then continuing on as band leader after Wolf died in 1976.  Sumlin was one of an increasingly small number of original Delta and Chicago blues pioneers. He got his start in Memphis, backing singer James Cotton before moving to Chicago in 1953 where he would collaborate with Howlin' Wolf.  Sumlin is acknowledged as an influence by Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and even Jimi Hendrix.

Sumlin had a lung removed in 2002 due to cancer, but continued to perform until very recently as his health allowed.  He also recorded songs over the past decade, with some albums currently still available via acousticsounds.com.  Check out Hubert Sumlin with Kenny Wayne Shepherd performing 'Sittin' On Top Of The World' in 2007:  (via Spinner.com)