Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 - January 10, 1976), better known as Howlin' Wolf or sometimes, The Howlin' Wolf, was an influential blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player.

With a booming voice and looming physical presence, Burnett is commonly ranked among the leading performers in electric blues; musician and critic Cub Koda declared, "no one could match [Howlin' Wolf] for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits." Many songs written or popularized by Burnett -- such as "Smokestack Lightnin'," "Back Door Man" and "Spoonful" -- have become standards of blues and blues rock.

Born Chester Arthur Burnett on June 10 1910 in White Station near West Point, Mississippi, he was nicknamed “Big Foot” and “Bull Cow” in his early years, and he explained the origin of the name “Howlin’ Wolf” thus: “I got that from my grandfather. He used to tell me stories about the wolves in that part of the country.” Howlin’ Wolf was a musical giant in every way. He stood six-foot-three, weighed almost three hundred pounds, wore size seventeen shoes, and poured out his dar