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Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to Pay for Hubert Sumlin's Funeral

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As Spinner recently reported, Howlin' Wolf sideman and legendary blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin died Sunday, Dec. 4, from heart failure. Since the 80-year-old axeman's death, musicians have come out of the woodwork to pay their respects, including members of the Rolling Stones. According to Music-News.com, frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards were so inspired by Sumlin throughout their careers that they plan to pay back the late musician for his tremendous work.

"I just wanted to share with you, Hubert's loving fans, that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have insisted on picking up the full expenses for Hubert's funeral," Sumlin's longtime partner Toni Ann Mamary revealed online [We have since confirmed this]. "God Bless the Rolling Stones."

"Hubert Sumlin lived with me for 10 years and he's probably the closed thing I will ever experience to heaven," Mamary told Spinner this afternoon. The Stones also posted fitting tributes to Sumlin's career on their Facebook page. "Hubert was an incisive yet delicate blues player," Mick Jagger wrote. "He had a really distinctive and original tone and was a wonderful foil for Howlin' Wolf's growling vocal style. On a song like 'Goin' Down Slow' he could produce heart-rending emotion, and on a piece like 'Wang Dang Doodle' an almost playful femininity. He was an inspiration to us all."

Keith Richards, who played on Sumlin's 2006 album 'About Them Shoes,' also spoke very highly of the late musician: "Warm, humorous and always encouraging, he was a gentleman of the first order. Miss him, yes, but we have his records. All my condolences to his family. One love, Hubert."

Sumlin's public service will take place at Festa Memorial Funeral Home in Totowa, N.J. on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Watch 'Living the Blues with Hubert Sumlin'

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muddytrane

Hubert Sumlin was one of the greatest blues guitarists and influenced most all guitarists. His tone and style was his own and others tried to copy it, but his finger picking style was legendary. He was Howlin Wolf's "son" and was half of the reason why Wolf's records touched so many blues fans and guitarists. Most of the greats have now passed and their needs to be a resurgance of blues artists to keep this great music form alive. Great gesture by Mick and Keith for their tribute to Hubert as they have always mentioned him as a great influence. Buddy Guy, BB King and a few others are left from that great generation of blues influences, so make sure you give them a "thank you" when you go see them so helping keep the great music of the blues alive. RIP Hubert Sumlin and I will be playing yours and the Wolf's music constantly so you can hear this blues fan never forgets the blues!

December 13 2011 at 3:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bigcity

The blues and the Blacks who invented it, gave America its heart beat.

RIP Hubert, The real blues lovers will miss you.

Peace,
D

December 13 2011 at 10:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Craig

Very cool guys!

December 13 2011 at 9:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aaron

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December 12 2011 at 5:25 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
Dnv66

Very nice, M & K R I P Tone King ALL the blues-rock guitarists of the late 60s and beyond were influenced by this guy Bloomfield,Clapton,Page,Beck,Hendrix,Mandel,Miller,Lee,MacPhee,Gallagher,Winter,Garcia,Santana,Zappa,and many others covered Howlin Wolf tunes and freely integrated Hubert's sweetly tortured tone into their own styles.

December 11 2011 at 11:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Helen Saghy

Sometimes it doesn't pay to write about something nice. The Stones have offered to honor a mentor who's music they truly enjoyed and we have all this nastiness.

A person doesn't have to die penniless for someone to offer to pay the expenses because they love the person and want to do that for the family.

A person doesn't have to be the greatest musician of all time to influence others. Sometimes being a gentleman, a person to admire and emulate, carries more weight that how well they play the music.

Lastly, a person doesn't have to be known by one and all to be significant and to have had a meaningful impact on the lives of others.

I never heard of the man or his prior band. But I have heard of the Rolling Stones and if this man moved Mick and Keith that much, then he must have been something to them and the world of The Blues.

December 11 2011 at 4:13 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Ray

Another of the greats goes on to that great band in the sky. Thanks for the years of talent and sharing. You are already missed. Say "Hi" to Stevie Ray and Jimi for me when you get there.

December 11 2011 at 3:55 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
elnpet

Did not know the man, but here,s too you. RIP.

December 11 2011 at 3:28 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
pacorvettelover2

Its always been a tight group in the rock and roll business ... For most any way ...
Alot of bands do alot for their fans and public .... They rarely print the good things these bands do ...... Only the bad stuff make headlines ...... UI wonder the new generations stars and singer will do this when their time is to come when their idol's need and helping hand ...... Thanks Mick & Keith for showing the true colors of rock n roll

The Beatle Man's " A Blast From Your Past "

December 11 2011 at 3:23 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Charles Malone

i don' tthink hubert was poor when he died, it was nice of the stones to do this. those of you saying bad things we know that you are morons and idiots, hubert was a great blues guitar player and a gentleman. he played with the great howlin wolf from 1954 until the wolf's death in 1976. when you here people talking about chicago blues these are some of the people they are talking about.

December 11 2011 at 3:19 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply