The Stones Pay For Hero's Funeral

Sumlin’s partner Toni Ann has posted, "I just wanted to share with you, Hubert’s loving fans, that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have insisted on picking up the full expenses for Hubert’s funeral. God Bless the Rolling Stones”.

Hubert Sumlin died on December 4 at the age of 80. Sumlin was one of the last great Chicago blues artists. He was the guitarist for Howlin’ Wolf and last year appeared with Kenny Wayne Shepherd on his ‘Live In Chicago’ album.

Keith Richards played on Sumlin’s 2006 album ‘Them Shoes’.

A private service will be held in Homewood, Illinois on December 13. A public service for fans will be held on December 12 at 10am at the Festa Memorial Funeral Home in Totowa, New Jersey. There will also be a public viewing at the funeral home on December 11 between 2 and 4pm and 7 and 9pm.

Mick Jagger said today, "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.”