A Chance To Meet... Muddy Waters - 1981

An interview with the legendary American blues musician Muddy Waters. Considered one of the foremost artists in blues history. Muddy was in Jersey, Channel Islands performing a concert at Fort Regent leisure centre.
First broadcast on Channel Television on the 24th June 1981.

[@bholaoates1542]

"I get taxed as McKinley Morganfield, but I live by Muddy Waters." Muddy sounds profound even when he's probably not trying to.

[@jsc1227]

I saw him about 10 times in the old days , kingstone mines checkboard lounge, drank whiskey and smoke a joint with him. Those were great days. The music was very inexpensive all the players were accessible. Chicago was alive with all kinds of great music in those days

[@mns8732]

Yes music was cheaper. Then the banks moved in.

[@terrycarthy4433]

Kingstone Mines ? Was that a club ? I've heard of the Checkerboard Lounge, 43rd st Chicago..yes ?

[@patrickhenrypdx5355]

@@terrycarthy4433 Kingston Mines. Still active in 2021. 2548 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

[@jessimerrill6579]

Luckyyyy

[@BlindMellowJellyInc]

The problem was back then racism was the King of Chicago. Muddy said it more than once, when he left the country he got respect. In Chicago he got nothing but hatred. The prob is he wish he would have known that sooner.

[@MDavidG1]

Muddy just OOZES cool. It's hard to describe it, but even when not performing he is just the coolest cat. Mellow, humble, grateful, gifted!

[@Riverdeepnwide]

So lucky I got to see this man Muddy Waters when I was 15, snuck in. First note he pulled out of that old red Telecaster made the hair stand up on my skin and kept it going all night. Unforgettable. That was over fifty years ago and his hands are still clear in memory, that sound, his voice. Changed my life for the better love ya Muddy.

[@MrLeoDad]

My father looked like Muddy Waters and he loved his singing.

[@greatesttoysevermade3693]

I got to meet Johnny Winter after a concert back in 2011. Johnny was signing autographs and not looking up or responding to fan comments like “that was a great show” etc. I stepped up and said, “I’ve always wanted to thank you for everything that you did for Muddy”...Johnny looked at me and said, “I was glad to do it”... needless to say I was awestruck! 🎸☮️

[@LAFITZ10]

yes he was on his knees nightly thanking Jesus probably for that privilege... i got the chance to entertain some of the Muddy Waters Band Kings at my home... Willie Big Eyes Smith, Bob Stroger & Jimmi Mayes & visited Pinetop Perkins in Austin from DFW every chance i could. GIANTS of men & i was only too privileged to be called their friend & family by them. i also met Johnny Winter & got the Largest Johnny Winter Signature in history lol... i told my friends to get him to sign it as big as he could. a 4' x6' portrait painting...they tipped it on its' side & he signed it...i have pics of that! God Is Great.

[@chrisguygeezer]

@@LAFITZ10 God has nuthin' to do with it all. 🙄

[@LAFITZ10]

well tell that to Willie & Pinetop because GOD is WHY we became close as FAMILY &i entertained kings in my home. @@chrisguygeezer

[@gasar8964]

The legendary bluesman from Mississippi , the late great Muddy Waters !

[@rievans57]

Two years later he was gone. One of the fathers of modern music.

[@AmazinglyGayPhil]

No modern music was created by Darude. The song in question is sandstorm.

[@BeterGaJe]

Did he went to Jerusalem after all?

[@douglasjoseph2111]

Buddy Guy is the last of the original blues men. Things will never be the same.

[@p.b.palaciosalmafuerte3463]

Don't loose the faith, hermano.✌️

[@sid35gb]

Check out kingfish Ingram the future is in good hands 😎

[@JohnBroom]

Saw him (Buddy) twice last year and so happy I did

[@JimBob-sc1nj]

@@JohnBroom hopefully gonna see him in May at Chesapeake Bay blues fest with Christone Ingram!!

[@mcampbell5158]

@@sid35gb Eric Gales is pretty damn good too.

[@williamrandall5050]

The Daddy of modern blues bands thank you Muddy

[@thomasdelany2034]

Listen to the voice, the tone, the reverberation, pure. That is his instrument. Equal to Pavarotti, Beethoven. Didn't know what you had.

[@colinwilliams553]

He was 65 at the time he was doing this interview two years later,he would pass on.his music will live on to this day.....TO THIS DAY. LONG LIVE MUDDY WATERS.

[@deacontheseer4804]

I love hearing these older men .They are from the older generation that my uncles and grandparents were from. This reminds of them the old southern dialect.

[@mikepowell7938]

I'm from Clarksdale Mississippi the delta home of the blues 🎸👏🏾 🎤🎙️🔥🔥 4:13

[@bluesdrmr2]

I am glad he made those fantastic records with Johnny Winter towards the end.

[@heyoka999]

The Godfather of Electric Blues

[@reginaldwilliams3701]

He was being nice telling his history. Truth is he was treated like a slave.

[@DeeTee79]

This man is a friggin LEGEND.

[@scottjohnson9642]

I was on my way to work one morning and heard on the radio he was dead I called in sick from a pay phone at the package store and got a half gallon of George nickel and a case of Budweiser and got stinking drunk for two days playin every one of his albums

[@markz7874]

Amen

[@camronbay1]

Damn.

[@markwathen8438]

Me too 💞🎵🎶🎧

[@ReverendHellbilly]

That was a day.Cheers 🍻

[@BluesInMySoul]

❤

[@ellane8441]

I met him on Maxwell Street - I've been playing the blues ever since.

[@joshmorrow4444]

I've stayed in Clarksdale 2 different times now and it amazes me that he just upped and left after something like 30 years. Barely able to sign his name, got off his tractor, and took the train to Chicago. When I was younger I had to ask someone on the street which direction the lake was after I got off the train in the loop for the first time by myself. I needed to go the opposite direction. Muddy was a complicated MANE and a King of Kings. So much respect.

[@mudnducs]

What a kind hearted and humble man! He’s sorely missed

[@kennyguitarallen5662]

my fav' blues man.

[@aneliigarcia7158]

Muddy you tha man, many people all over the world love you.

[@philomath67]

Just learning about Muddy. That interview made me want to cry. Especially the end. Neat, humble fellow.

[@dannyburch2122]

Love me some Muddy Waters.

[@onehandedkeyboardist]

What blues lover doesn't? Haha

[@bobaldo2339]

I had the pleasure of spending some time with him backstage that year also.

[@artisanpictures9927]

Just wow. What an extraordinary man and what a great chance taken to interview him.

[@andrericardo2847]

The best Bluesman

[@TheFitzhugh1]

great respectful interviewer for Muddy!

[@kevinchaves2166]

R.I.P MR. MUDDY WATERS 🙏

[@LeeSoenam]

Muddy it's 2021, so much pain and confusion to sing about. Wish you were here!

[@fenandocastanonmanrriquez591]

Muddy Waters un grande del blues

[@mdhbigdog]

Muddy Waters, aka McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 - April 30, 1983). 68 years old at the time of the interview in 1981.

[@willrich3908]

what a MAN.

[@ACOUSTIC_4LOVE]

Muddy is a National Treasure. Humble, And as true as a mighty Oak in the field. RIP Muddy 🇺🇸

[@curleyteeth]

Aint that a man.

[@jalanhart]

"Not to retire until I get really old or sick". I bet he didn't think that would be in about a year. Very sad.

[@UncleChillGuitar]

A National Treasure who finally got his due.

[@minorsnow5306]

Muddy quick with the answers...

[@sugarmamaaa]

The great Muddy Waters!

[@robertschaeffer8469]

All of the greats are now traveling that same road as Muddy Waters did, in their later years who are still performing the Blues.

[@stevetimmy1595]

The absolute King 👑. respect for a humble genius & the rolling stones know that

[@CP-kb1du]

King of the Blues Simple Legend ..Muddy was rapping before Rappers were called Rappers .. Killer Guitarist .... Licks ...

[@freddycookjr.2164]

BLACK WALNUT ICE CREAM AND GRAPE NEHI THE MUDDY FLOAT PURE GENIUS

[@stephenjames4937]

My main man, heck yes.

[@Jonathan-L]

Such a heart-warming intro to this interview.

[@TheRollingStony]

I was lucky enough to meet and hang with Muddy at this time period back stage after one of his gigs,. gave him my own interview while we sat with His Wife there and had a ton of laughs. I talked him into taking me on as a Roadie and he said if I would go to Connecticut the following Friday night and got back stage he'd hire me on,.,. Alas I never went because of fear of losing my regular job. RIP Muddy . The Coolest

[@shaserv]

You big Dummy, you would of hand the time of your life. LOL.

[@TheRollingStony]

shaserv I know for sure ,. we did hit it off always wished I would have followed up

[@oullahtakanebghikawilihbib9305]

destiny has the last word and everything is for the best so no regret my friend :-)

[@oullahtakanebghikawilihbib9305]

man you must be an old man now loll old in the sense of age only .. the soul never gets old

[@brianhackert8513]

i was talking to the op -- he shoulda gone, chance of a lifetime, but i also understand his fear. so lighten up, big boy

[@TheBluesmanBlue]

Mr. Muddy Waters that's the blues Man motto doing it till death🎸

[@BZMANAGEMENT1980]

I was to young at Time to recognize his music but once I got older and was introduced to blues and visited New Orleans I grown alot of respect for there craft they help paves the way for musicians today 2018

[@TadhgcDoran]

What a beautiful man

[@mariai9549]

:28 LOL so funny I used to have a Tshirt I made in art class that said in the front: "Hello my name is Mckinley Morganfield." and on the back It had a picture of him and said "but you can call me Muddy" Loved that shirt...

[@Crimepaysaskapolitician]

Fist interview I've ever seen featuring Muddy. Thanks!

[@davidjspaulding]

Love this interview. Feel like I got to sit around and really hear him from his heart. Fantastic.

[@carlton4610]

We saw him play at at Carnegie Hall , I think about 1974... What a lot of energy and fun , like lightning and thunder :-) I feel so lucky n blessed to have caught that show!

[@wrqnine7675]

The albums "Muddy Waters" and "The Real Folk Blues" resonated till I thought if people don't know this then they will always be deeply ignorant in an unimaginable way, so I told them. Muddy's generosity, born equally of candor and misery, eventually took him places few can even imagine, but the vehicle in which he arrived was purely of his own invention.

[@Dd13200]

Awesome Muddy

[@smithwilliam6837]

Thank you thank you thank you again

[@nyhighbuf58]

I meant Muddy Waters at the Belle Starr lounge Colden NY. 1976 best Blues Man ever!!!

[@goodgod977]

Such a talented sweetheart

[@ricksmith7881]

Definitely one of a kind

[@bransemlin56]

Muddy one and only!

[@loilt5091]

Some of my friends & myself share Muddy’s birthday. Thankfully, I saw him in concert, twice, during the early 80’s. Johnny Winter was producing him while I was in high school, winning 3 Grammy’s. This era was my initial introduction to his music. They’ll always be 2 of my absolute musical heroes‼️

[@ONE328]

Great interview....

[@ffjsb]

Got to see him live once in his later years, a real treat... probably within a year of this interview.

[@flagwanker6346]

It is really something, when John Lennon arrived in America and said “I want to see Muddy Waters”? The sceptic interviewer said, “Where’s that”?

[@garyaugustus690]

You mean "square" interviewer..

[@pantano207]

Thanks for posting this!

[@208records]

Fantastic. Many thanks for uploading; seems there is some wonderful social history in the Channel Television archive!

[@threeg6966]

Muddy Waters is the best, he definitely has my respect. Love great Blues music. My IPOD is filled with it.

[@5150show]

Incredible

[@davidteller7681]

Muddy:"...I feel like I made a difference in the music world..." oh, just a little! 😁😁😁👍👍👍

[@joshuadowling8778]

Can I get an Amen?! What would the Stones be with out this gentleman? NOT A BAND. That's the answer.

[@goodmusicfanatic4715]

American Music Heroe....Leyend.

[@mns8732]

That interview hit me deeply. Thanks for uploading.

[@toobadjim1]

WOW!!!

[@theskullkid421]

I have immeasurable respect for this man

[@jimmyjames9752]

Muddy lost one of his friend's a few months before this interview Michael Bloomfield. tried helping him out before he died

[@ajbianchi85]

Thats right Muddy, machines will never be able to match a human’s ability to make music

[@xwarx1000]

the Real LEGEND

[@tarikzemmouri9670]

MUDDY

[@aneliigarcia7158]

Billy Gibbons sent him a custom guitar. Badass...

[@SuperBluesTV]

awesome share

[@bub64882]

Shoutout to Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top...That was kind of Muddy to mention that.

[@40pianos]

Mr. Morganfield preferred a bubbly, blended beverage known as Champale; sparkling wine and ale.

[@garyaugustus690]

@@40pianos We used to also call it pink champagne..

[@mechcavandy986]

When Muddy played Newport, one of his young band members was laughing and making fun of Son House. Muddy got a hold of him and said, ‘If it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t be here. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here. So I know you wouldn’t be here!’ 🙀💙

[@carlton4610]

Fabulous interview! He was playing harp first woa I didn't know that ! Left Stovall plantation when in his 20's... Thanks for this !

[@livelikeitshows1802]

Legend!!!

[@ricksmith2206]

What a legend

[@albertomartinez2479]

Muddy put the 'unk' in the funk.

[@muddywalker3736]

he is the king of blues also check out muddy walker youtube tiny dreams

[@paulcowart3174]

Reading his bio for the second time right now

[@paulaguzman5105]

🎤

[@yuelmichael5439]

What is the name of the song in the beginning of this interview

[@brotherbear2149]

Genuine muddy

[@GoldenGateNum9]

*What a baddass, Jimi Hendrix & his WHOLE sound is solely based upon the songs ' Still A Fool ' & ' Rollin ' Stone. '* *right down to the very riffs. Jimi or Pelvis Presley wouldn't of been shit without people like Muddy Waters & the True* *Blues artists. Respect where respect is due ✘✘*

[@turnerchurchill4449]

elvis presley maybe, but jimi hendrix is a person who comes around once in the history of the human race just like mozart, django reinhardt, duke ellington, robert johnson, muddy waters, jimi hendrix is on that list and though everyone take inspiration from those before them, jimi hendrix had the music in him begging to be let out.

[@40pianos]

And if Son House hadn't existed there would have been no Muddy Waters. Arbitrarily removing pieces from the chess board is a pointless exercise in the hypothetical. The talent and creative energy in both of the artists you would erase for the imagined absence of one man is childishly naive. You want to acknowledge the contribution made by the great Muddy Waters, do so. You don't need to denigrate artists who cast much longer shadows than the aforementioned bluesman.

[@SPNKr16]

@@40pianos You're born with the talent, that's how Jimi and Muddy became known in their circle/s before they made albums or singles. Those who study the music they want to excel at academically aren't known. It's all natural born talent, without it you wouldn't know what to do with it if there was no musical instrument laying around. Either you have it, or you don't. Those academic suckers mostly don't have it, but they have the talent to learn all the technical academia level of the music to the point they're counting every bar and measure as they play (not how it's supposed to be), you have to feel the music. That's all it takes. Because these natural cats felt their music, we got to hear it. Ultimately there's no need for a school in this. Just listen and learn, literally.

[@sammccue500]

@@SPNKr16 "Natural ability without education has more often raised a man to glory and virtue than education without natural ability." Marcus Tullius Cicero

[@soulman7429]

Both Hendrix & Elvis would have "been shit" without him. Muddy was great & influencial but he wasn't SO big that others could not have had an impact without him. To push that is to express a lack of true context of that era of music. Plus Elvis, and Jimi almost 10 years later, both were forces of nature each with tremendous amount of different types of influences. So it may to true to say without blues legends as an influence they would have had a different sound perhaps, but because they emersed in many other genres of music as influence, they would have found a way to pursue their love of music and still done ok. If we're gonna start making gross overinflamed statements that other artists "wouldn't have been sh*t without this guy or that guy"...then we could do this all day long talking about other artists. Most the blues greats from that era, including Muddy, admitted to their own influences for without them, THEY "wouldn't have been sh*t" either....if going to use that logic. You follow what saying.

[@swinginonthespiral8765]

[@garyaugustus690]

"Mr. Wau-uhs, Mr. Wau-uhs.."

[@cjempire1188]

Ain't nothing like a Cadillac rs.. and Cadillacs, no matter what rims u got, hubcaps or custom the tires should always be Vogue tires.. vogues belong on Cadillacs

[@PortoAntico]

that's him speaking the audio is not very good .

[@BassGuitarInstrumental]

I hope he got to the Holy Land.

[@aCloudOfHaze]

I don't think he did sadly. Hope he's in the one up there I guess.

[@jakeizlove]

Did he ever get to play in Jerusalem?

[@stephenshepherd6883]

jakeizlove no he never made it

[@aelfheld]

That someone forty years ago would think Jerusalem was the birthplace of Christ is surprising.