Glimmer Twins to Pay for Hubert Sumlin's Funeral
By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 9, 2011 8:40PM
Blues guitar legend Hubert Sumlin passed away earlier this week at the age of 80 in a New Jersey hospital. Sumlin, who played with the legendary Howlin' Wolf for nearly 23 years, had a guitar style that was as integral to Wolf's sound as Willie Dixon's bass playing and songwriting prowess, and Wolf's vocals.
Sumlin's playing was also a major influence on the guitarists associated with the 60s British Invasion: Eric Claption, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and particularly Keith Richards. Richards even talked about his excitement recording with Sumlin in 2004. When news of Sumlin's death broke, Richards said, "To me, he was an uncle and a teacher, and all the guitar players must feel the same as myself.”
The early Rolling Stones records were so steeped in blues one could be forgiven for mistaking them for a Chess Records release. The website Noise11 reported that Richards and Stones frontman Mick Jagger will cover the costs of Sumlin's private funeral next week in Homewood, IL. Sumlin's partner, Toni Ann Mamary, said in the "Glimmer Twins" insisted on picking up the tab an online posting, ending it with, "God Bless the Rolling Stones."
A public funeral and viewing for Sumlin is scheduled for Dec. 11 at Festa Memorial Funeral Home in Totowa, NJ.