Eddie Shaw is a rare individual. For nearly 60 years in the city of Chicago - where Blues bands are nearly always led by either a guitarist or, more rarely, a pianist - Eddie both plays the saxophone and has been a successful band leader. Which makes him virtually unique.
Shaw has played with some of the greats. The Mississippi native was born in 1937 and started to play tenor sax in his early teens. He played with people like Little Milton and Ike Turner before he was 20. Tasking a big step up in the Blues world when he was 20 years old, Muddy Waters, who heard him playing in the Blues hot bed of Itta Bena, Mississippi, asked him to come to Chicago and join Muddy's band.
After just a few years with Waters, Shaw switched to working with Muddy's chief rival, Howlin' Wolf. He impressed Wolf enough that he was soon the leader of Wolf's band, the Wolf Gang. Shaw stayed with Howlin' Wolf for many, many years. While playing regularly with Wolf, Shaw also found time to play with many other Blues greats on Chicago's West Side including Magic Sam, Otis Rush and Freddy King.
When Howlin' Wolf passed away in 1976, Eddie kept the band together as Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang. They took over Wolf's regular gig at the famous 1815 Club which was renamed Eddie's Place. The band has also gone on to record several very fine albums. They continue to perform regularly, mostly on Chicago's West Side where Eddie's Place is located on West Roosevelt Road, which is well worth a visit.
One special contribution Eddie Shaw has made to all Blues lovers was arranging tracks for The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions which featured Eric Clapton, Bill Wyman and other British Blues artists. You won't be disappointed with it.
-M
Although approaching 80 years old, Eddie Shaw still loves playing the Blues. "Almost 60 years in the Blues business and I'm not tired yet !!" Shaw said, or better yet, "Blues has been good to me and after all these years the Blues is still alright !!"
The Blues is especially alright when done by Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang.