Bob Margolin is steady rollin’ on! This year marks 50 years since he joined Muddy Waters’ band, and he’s giving Thanks to celebrate. On every song on the new album, out October 27 via VizzTone, he’s playing the same Gibson archtop electric guitar that he played alongside Muddy and The Band in Martin Scorsese’s film The Last Waltz.
“I celebrate 50 years since Muddy Waters took me into his band in 1973 and put me on the road I still ride,” Margolin tells American Blues Scene. “Thanks to Muddy, all the fine musicians I met through our connection, and a special guitar I bought in 1975…”
After playing seven years with Muddy, six months later I opened a show for him. After an encore of Little Walter’s ‘Just Keep Lovin’ Her,’ which came out in 1949, like me, Muddy got up from the dressing room couch, put his hands on my shoulders, and told me, ‘I haven’t heard that song in 30 years. You’re keeping the Old School alive!’ It’s the deepest compliment I’ve ever gotten. I love Old School Chicago Blues and live to play it.
It was a surprise thrill starting in 2016 to play on celebrations of The Last Waltz with an all-star family of today’s finest musicians. I played Muddy’s “Mannish Boy” song and it went over so well I was asked to play more Blues. I loved playing with the amazing musicians and listening to their versions of songs by The Band and their guests at the Last Waltz. One honored special guest we had in November 2019 was the recently-departed Robbie Robertson, guitarist and songwriter from The Band.
When I saw him for the first time since 1976, he observed correctly, ‘We don’t look like that anymore.’ Then Robbie and I kinda time traveled to the 1976 Last Waltz rehearsals for Muddy’s songs, how Muddy’s magnetism both drew in and scared the other musicians, and how Paul Butterfield had created a haunting harp warble behind Muddy’s voice for ‘Mannish Boy.’ I told Robbie that Muddy loved Paul’s playing on that.
Robbie remembered more than I did about those rehearsals. And in that moment we were back in 1976 while we indeed did not ‘look like that anymore.’ I’m blessed to have played with some truly great musicians. I fully valued it in the moment and ever since. And I celebrate that every time I play, more than ever. THANKS to all of them.
We would like to congratulate Bob Margolin on his Lifetime Achievement Award presented to him this weekend at the Blues Blast Music Awards held in Peoria, Illinois!
Today, Margolin is celebrating 50 years by “Going Down to Main St.” Originally released in 1952 by Muddy and his original band featuring Jimmy Rogers on second guitar and Little Walter on harp, it has always been one of his favorite Muddy songs from before he was in his band.
Muddy didn’t play it often, but In 1975 Margolin recorded it with him for The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album, featuring Levon Helm and Paul Butterfield. He dedicates this song to Levon, too, who also liked singing it.
With that same special slide guitar that sings, the song swings!
