Douglas (Bronzeville) in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Chester A. “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett

1910-1976

— Bronzeville Walk of Fame —

Chester A. “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 14, 2026

1. Chester A. “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett Marker

Inscription.
Renowned blues singer

Erected 1996 by City of Chicago.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Bronzeville Walk of Fame series list.

Location. 41° 50.476′ N, 87° 37.022′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Douglas (Bronzeville). It is on South Martin Luther King Drive south of East 29th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Elijah Muhammad (within shouting distance of this marker);

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Oscar G. Brown, Sr. / Oscar Brown, Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker); Sam Cooke (within shouting distance of this marker); Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong / Lil Hardin-Armstrong (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Savoy Big Five (about 300 feet away); Haki Madhubuti (about 400 feet away); Florence B. Price (about 400 feet away); Jesse Owens (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. Roughly 100 Bronzeville Walk of Fame markers are found around the neighborhood along Martin Luther King Drive between 25th and 35th Streets.

Regarding Chester A. “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett. Howlin' Wolf was born and raised in Mississippi, where he emerged as a leading blues musician. He and his band relocated in Chicago after signing with Chess Records in the 1950s. He died at the Veterans Administration hospital in suburban Hines, Illinois, in 1976 at the age of 65.

Also see . . . Howlin’ Wolf/Chester Arthur Burnett (1910-1976). From the BlackPast website.

After a brief stint in the Army from 1941-1943, Burnett returned to Mississippi and in 1948 formed a
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 14, 2026

2. Chester A. “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett Marker on the east side of King Drive
band featuring Matt “Guitar” Murphy and Junior Parker. The band was discovered by record executive Sam Philips in 1950 and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee. After recording for the RPM and Chess record labels, Howlin’ Wolf and his band signed to Chess and they relocated to Chicago in 1953. That year he was able to hire guitarist Hubert Sumlin, who went on to become a mainstay of Burnett’s subsequent bands through the end of his career. The band’s lineup rotated regularly and featured many influential Chicago-style blues performers including Willie Dixon, who played bass and co-wrote classic Howlin’ Wolf songs such as “Spoonful” and “Little Red Rooster.” Burnett’s mother Gertrude, a religious fundamentalist, refused to speak with Chester even after he achieved success, believing his music to be “Devil’s music.” This was a source of woe throughout his life.

(Submitted on August 17, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on August 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on August 17, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.