Muddy Waters, revered blues musician and songwriter, passed away on April 30, 1983, at age 68. He is considered a key figure in the development of the post-war blues, modern electric blues, and the emergence of rock and roll. Born McKinley Morganfield on April 4, 1915, in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, Waters was inspired to play music from an early age. He began playing the blues when his cousin introduced him to the blues musicians on nearby Stovall Plantation. Beginning his career playing acoustic blues and country music, Waters moved to Chicago in 1943, where he electrified his style, greatly influencing the urban blues sound. His recordings during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s provided the template for many rock, blues, and rock and roll musicians who followed in his wake, helping create an audience for the genre that continues today. Among Waters’s most popular songs were Hootchie Cootchie Man, which was used in the soundtrack of the 1978 horror classic, “Halloween”; I Can’t Be Satisfied; and I’m Ready. Waters is remembered for his powerful blues music and willingness to adapt to a changing world while maintaining the emotional core of his music. He is considered one of the originators of modern music and will be greatly missed by fans and fellow musicians alike.