Muddy Waters, born McKinley Morganfield on April 4, 1913, in Issaquena County, Mississippi, was a seminal American blues musician often hailed as the "father of modern Chicago blues." Raised by his grandmother on the Stovall Plantation near Clarksdale, Mississippi, he was nicknamed "Muddy Waters" due to his childhood habit of playing in the muddy waters of nearby creeks. Waters began playing the harmonica at an early age and picked up the guitar at 17, influenced by local blues legends like Son House and Robert Johnson.

In 1941, Waters was recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress, which marked the beginning of his journey into professional music. He moved to Chicago in 1943, where he transitioned from acoustic to electric guitar, a shift that would define his sound and influence the future of blues music. By 1946, he was recording for Aristocrat Records, which later became Chess Records, and began releasing a series of hits including "I Feel Like Going Home" and "I Can’t Be Satisfied."

Throughout the early 1950s, Waters and his band, featuring talents like Little Walter and Otis Spann, recorded blues classics such as "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "I'm Ready," many written by bassist Willie Dixon. His music played a crucial role in shaping the Chicago blues style, characterized by its electric sound and emotive vocal delivery. Waters' influence extended beyond blues, impacting the development of rock and roll and inspiring countless musicians.

Muddy Waters' international fame grew after a 1958 tour in England, which helped spark a renewed interest in blues music. His performance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1960 further solidified his status as a blues icon. He continued to perform and record until his death on April 30, 1983, in Westmont, Illinois. Posthumously, Waters was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, cementing his legacy as a pivotal figure in American music history.