Muddy Waters was recorded on a Mississippi plantation by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress. Within a decade he had moved to Chicago, plugged in an electric guitar, and invented a sound that became the foundation of rock and roll.

This episode follows Waters from Stovall’s plantation through his creation of the Chicago electric blues sound and his influence on every major rock band of the 1960s.

• The Rolling Stones took their name from his 1950 song Rollin’ Stone
• He was first recorded in 1941 by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress
• His Chess Records sessions in the 1950s defined Chicago electric blues
• He won six Grammy Awards, all after turning sixty