Monday Motivator: Muddy Waters

“My grandmother, she say
I shouldn’t be playing.
I should go to church.
Finally, I say
‘I’m going do this, I’m going do it.’
And she got where
she didn’t bother me
about it.”
— Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters, born McKinley Morganfield on April 4, 1913, used his meager sharecropper wages to buy his first guitar when he was 17, and he taught himself to play. Today he is considered the father of modern Chicago blues, but his influence reaches far beyond that and into folk, jazz, country, and especially rock ‘n’ roll.

He helped Chuck Berry get his first recording contract.
The Rolling Stones named themselves after Mr. Waters’ song “Rollin’ Stone.”
Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”, is based on the hit “You Need Love.”

For a little taste of the voice, the guitar, the harmonica, and the power, watch Muddy Waters perform “Manish Boy.”

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The Monday Motivator is a quote posted each week to encourage, inspire, and motivate writers of all skill levels and across genres. If you have a favorite quote to share, let me know and I’ll post it here. Click here to see past Monday Motivators.