[jobim]

I was in Howlin Wolf's south side Chicago home shortly after he died in January 1976, to pick up his kidney dialysis machine. I was greeted by his sister that day, who walked me through a very modest bungalo, and the only distinctive feature to separate that house from legions like it in the lower middle class neighborhood were the gold LPs framed on the walls.

Many great artists through the centuries have died without full recognition of their achievements, while many Rod McKuens and Jacqueline Susanns and all "poets" on Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac, and P Diddys, and 1910 Fruitgum Companies live in opulence.

[TChad]

From Howlin' Wolf's Wikipedia page,

After he married Lillie, who was able to manage his professional finances, Burnett was so financially successful that he was able to offer band members not only a decent salary, but benefits such as health insurance; this in turn enabled him to hire his pick of the available musicians, and keep his band one of the best around. According to his daughters, he was never financially extravagant, for instance driving a Pontiac station wagon rather than a more expensive and flashy car.

[SC_Pete]

Good post. But I’m sure he knew how good his playing was—and that is worth more than gold.