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The original item was published from 1/21/2020 4:40:31 PM to 1/21/2020 4:41:22 PM.
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Posted on: January 21, 2020[ARCHIVED] Muddy Waters Sign Added To Exhibit
Westmont, Illinois
Date Issued: January 21, 2020
At the January 16 Village Board Meeting, Westmont resident Keith Reich and Joe “Mojo” Morganfield talked about a unique item that will soon go on display at the Muddy Waters Historical Exhibit in Westmont.
For over a decade, Reich has been collecting the autographs of blues musicians on a Muddy Waters Way street sign and now that sign will be featured at the exhibit. At the meeting, “Mojo” Morganfield added his autograph to the sign. Morganfield is the youngest son of Muddy Waters and is now a popular performer on the blues music circuit. Reich began collecting signatures of the blues artists that played at the annual Muddy Waters Blues Tribute and Jam during the Taste of Westmont, and has more than 40 autographs on the sign. Signatures on the sign include:
Willie “Big Eyes” Smith
* Willie was Muddy Waters drummer during the timeframe that Muddy won 6 Grammy awards
* Willie earned over 12 Blues Foundation Awards as best blues drummer
* Willie was a member of the Legendary Blues Band, which toured with Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton
* in 2011, Willie won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album for “Joined at the Hip”, an album recorded with Pinetop Perkins
* Willie appeared and played behind John Lee Hooker in “The Blues Brothers”
Joe Kelley
* Joe was a member of The Shadows of Knight, which had the top 10 Billboard single GLORIA
* Joe played with various blues-focused bands/acts including the Allman Brothers, Buddy Miles, Willie Dixon, and Freddie King
* Joe played in a band called the Outsiders, with whom he recorded the hit “Time Won’t Let Me”
Earl the Pearl
* Earl is the uncredited ghost songwriter for the Grammy winning Rick Springfield hit “Jessie’s Girl”
Katherine Davis
* Katherine has Toured the world as a blues singer
* Katherine is an advocate for blues music history and is active with the “Blues in the Schools” music education program
Mike Wheeler
* Mike was Inducted into the Chicago Blues Music Hall of Fame as a Master Blues Artist
* Mike has performed with Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, and many other blues legends
Lonnie Brooks
* Lonnie is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter-guitarist
* Lonnie is a Blues Hall of Fame inductee
Joe “Mojo” Morganfield
* Joe is the youngest son of Muddy Waters and international blues performer
Big Bill Morganfield
* Bill is one of Muddy Waters sons and international blues performer
“Mud” Morganfield
* Mud is the oldest son of Muddy Waters and international blues performer
George “Mojo” Buford
* George played harmonica in Muddy Waters band at various times in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s
Eddie C. Campbell
* Eddie learned to play guitar from the blues legends Muddy Waters, Magic Sam, and Otis Rush
* Eddie played in bands behind Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Little Johnny Taylor, and Jimmy Reed
Bob Stroger
* Bob played bass for numerous blues music stars including Eddie King, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rogers, Eddie Taylor, Eddy Clearwater, Sunnyland Slim, Louisiana Red, Buster Benton, Homesick James, Mississippi Heat, Snooky Pryor, Odie Payne, Fred Below, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and Billy Davenport
* Bob earned two Blues Music Awards as best blues bass player
“We’re always looking to add new artifacts to our Muddy Waters Historical Exhibit,” said Westmont Communications Director Larry McIntyre, who created the Muddy Waters Historical Exhibit located in Westmont Centre, 1 S. Cass Avenue. “This Muddy Waters sign has the signatures of numerous blues musicians who are famous throughout the world. We want to thank Keith for loaning this artifact to the exhibit.”
The Muddy Waters Historical Exhibit is part of the office of the Westmont Special Events Corporation, which is the organization that hosts the annual Muddy Waters Blues Tribute & Jam each year at the Taste of Westmont. The Muddy Waters Exhibit in Westmont includes over 40 one-of-a-kind blues artifacts including rare photos, original posters and publicity handbills, clothing, tour memorabilia, and more. One of the featured items in the exhibit is a Grammy Award that Waters won in 1972.
For more information regarding Westmont Special Events and the Muddy Waters Historical Exhibit, please contact the WSEC at wsec@westmontevents.com or 630-829-9378.
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