Muddy Waters – Biography and History
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Born McKinley Morganfield on April 4, 1913, in Issaquena County, Mississippi, Muddy Waters would grow up to become one of the most influential figures in the history of blues music. Raised by his grandmother in the Mississippi Delta, Waters experienced the hardships and injustices of life in the segregated South. It was here, amidst the cotton fields and juke joints, that he first encountered the music that would shape his destiny.
Waters was drawn to the raw, emotive sounds of Delta blues, learning to play the guitar at a young age. He absorbed the techniques of local musicians such as Son House and Robert Johnson, honing his skills and developing his own distinctive style. By his late teens, he was already performing at local parties and gatherings, earning a reputation as a talented and charismatic performer.