Leadbelly and Muddy Waters

As soon as Muddy Waters settled down to his own south side apartment, he immediately began working as a sideman with Memphis Slim, 'Sonny Roy' Williamson, Sunnyland Slim and most or the other top loading musicians. Word got around about his talent and he soon became in demand. Muddy was among the first to switch from the acoustic to the electric guitar. After teaming up with Big Bill Broonzy the leading blues artist along with his rival Tampa Red. Big Bill introduced Muddy to Lester Melrose, a white record producer who had an open door to RCA and Columbia Records. Melrose recorded Waters in 1946 and sold the masters to Columbia. Columbia executives however, decided not to release the sides because they were not acquainted with the sound of an electric guitar for the blues.

In 1947, Sunnyland Slim brought Muddy Waters to Aristocrat Records, a new company that just settled in Chicago. Aristocrat owners, Leonard and Phil Chess look Muddy into the studio and recorded "Gypsy Woman" and "Little Anna May," both sides were financial flops for the Chess brothers. However, Waters with the assistance of Sunnyland Slim convinced the brothers to do one more session. Muddy worked out a duo with Big Crawford on string bass. The song was "I Can't Be Satisfied." The record became a local hit. The Chess brothers had records hand delivered to radio stations and it was heard throughout the immediate area. Muddy went on to make more records that became hits such as, "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man," "Rolling Stone," "Got My Mojo Workin," and "I Just Want To Make Love To You." Waters became a worldwide superstar and was considered to be the best blues singer of all times.