Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones Paying For Blues Guitarist's Funeral

December 2011

The Rolling Stones Paying For Blues Guitarist's Funeral

Sir Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards are paying for the funeral of blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin, who died last week.

The Rolling Stones are paying for the funeral of blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin.

Singer Sir Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards are personally putting up the money for the send off of the Chicago blues musician - the long time guitarist for legendary singer Howlin Wolf - who passed away last week aged 80.

Hubert's partner, Toni Ann Mamary, wrote online: "Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have insisted on picking up the full expenses for Hubert's funeral. God Bless the Rolling Stones."

The 'Let's Spend the Night Together' band have long acknowledged their debt to Hubert's playing style and his influence on their music, and Keith played on his 2006 album 'Them Shoes'.

Paying tribute, Keith wrote: "With sorrow I received the news of Hubert's passing. He put up a long hard fight. To me he was an uncle and a teacher and all the guitar players must feel the same as myself. "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."

Mick added: "Hubert was an incisive yet delicate blues player. 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."

A private service for Hubert will be held in Homewood, Illinois on December 13. A public service for fans will be held a day earlier at the Festa Memorial Funeral Home in Totowa, New Jersey.