ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

‘The Natchez Burnin’’: Howlin’ Wolf Remembers The Mississippi Fire Of 1940

In 1956, the great bluesman recorded his commemoration of a Mississippi tragedy.

Published on

Howlin' Wolf - Photo: Chess Records Archives
Howlin' Wolf - Photo: Chess Records Archives

The fire in Natchez, Mississippi that took the lives of more than 200 people in 1940 was observed several times on record soon afterwards. But it was on July 19, 1956 that Howlin’ Wolf recorded his own commemoration of those tragic events, in what later became the Chess single “The Natchez Burnin.’”

The Natchez Burnin'

Click to load video

The fire broke out at the Rhythm Club, when a flame ignited the Spanish moss that hung from its ceiling. With windows nailed shut and only one exit door, a huge crush was inevitable, as victims were burned or crushed to death. The story became national news, and those to lose their lives were bandleader Walter Barnes and nine members of his dance orchestra.

A Chicago hero

When the fire started, Barnes, who had recorded with his Royal Creolians in the late 1920s, had tried to calm the crowd by continuing to perform the song “Marie” with his fellow musicians. He was remembered as a hero, and the Chicago Daily Defender, for whom he also wrote a column, reported that 15,000 attended his funeral.

Within two weeks of the fire, the Lewis Bronzeville Five had recorded both “Mississippi Fire Blues” and “Natchez Mississippi Blues.” Soon afterwards, pianist Leonard “Baby Doo” Caston recorded “The Death of Walter Barnes,” and, under the name of vocalist Gene Gilmore, “The Natchez Fire.”

A stellar recording

The recording session for “The Natchez Burnin”” on July 19 featured Wolf on harmonica and ever-distinctive vocals, guitar by Willie Dixon and drums by Earl Phillips, among others. Wolf made the tribute all the more poignant by naming some of those who died that day. “Charlotte Jones was there, Louisa was there, Rosa Mae was there, Louise was there,” he sang. “I stood back, was looking, and the whole building come tumbling down.”

The track didn’t become a Chess 45 until more than three years later, in November 1959, paired with an even older recording, “You Gonna Wreck My Life,” from 1954. “Natchez” went on to inspire versions by a range of artists from John Lee Hooker to Captain Beefheart, as well as by Louisiana guitarist Robert Gilmore and two bluesmen who actually hailed from Natchez, Elmo Williams and Hezekiah Early.

Buy or stream “The Natchez Burnin’” on Smokestack Lightnin’: The Best Of Howlin’ Wolf.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Wijns

    July 19, 2016 at 8:11 pm

    I still have some unplayed LP’S of Howling Wolf.
    Not daring to play them I am happy with this!

  2. Phil Larsen

    July 19, 2018 at 5:24 pm

    Tony Mcphee and the Groundhogs covered the song on the 1969 album Blues Obituary

  3. Martijn Hover

    July 20, 2023 at 11:08 am

    Actually Willie Dixon played bass on this song, as on most Howlin’ Wolf recordings. The guitar was played by Willie Johnson and Otis “Big Smokey” Smothers.

Comments are temporarily disabled and will return shortly.
Rihanna - Unapologetic
Rihanna
Unapologetic
Opaque Fruit Punch Limited Edition 2LP
ORDER NOW
Rihanna - Rated R
Rihanna
Rated R
Translucent Black Ice Limited Edition 2LP
ORDER NOW
Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad
Rihanna
Good Girl Gone Bad
Crystal Clear Limited Edition 2LP
ORDER NOW
Rihanna - Loud
Rihanna
Loud
Pink Limited Edition 2LP
ORDER NOW
Rihanna - Talk That Talk
Rihanna
Talk That Talk
Translucent Emerald Green Limited Edition LP
ORDER NOW
Rihanna - A Girl Like Me
Rihanna
A Girl Like Me
Sea Glass Limited Edition 2LP
ORDER NOW
uDiscover Music - Back To Top
uDiscover Music - Back To Top