Muddy Waters hit the headlines in June 1956 when a fight broke out on the bandstand at Ricky’s Show Lounge on Indiana Ave, reported under the headline “Cast in Muddy Waters Fracas.” Source: Chicago Defender, June 9, 1956. 1/🧵 Those charged in Women’s Court were Muddy Waters, Dorothy Shelton, Geraldine Williams, Ruth Johnson, and Muddy’s manager James Triplett on counts of malicious mischief and fighting. Source: Chicago Defender, June 9, 1956. 2/🧵

On Nov 22, 1982, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble accepted Jackson Browne’s offer to use his LA warehouse studio, three days free tape time, after Browne caught their Montreux set; they arrived unsigned, broke, and hungry to make a demo. Source: de Visé, TexasFlood. 🧵1 The “studio” was concrete floor, scatter rugs, amp stacks in a corner; Vaughan, Tommy Shannon, Chris Layton set up like a bar gig and rolled tape—no baffles, no click, just room bleed and sweat. Source: de Visé, TexasFlood. 🧵2

Willie Dixon wasn’t merely a bassist—he was a creative powerhouse behind over 600 songs that defined Chicago blues. His prolific songwriting wasn’t just about numbers; it was an artistic revolution that redefined a genre, challenging norms and inspiring authenticity. Through songs like “Hoochie Coochie Man” and “Spoonful,” Dixon fused storytelling with swagger-filled lyrics. His work captured the spirit of struggle, resilience, and triumph—a testament to how music can serve as a powerful narrative of cultural identity and social experience.