Born in Macon, Mississippi,[1] Clearwater is best known for being part of the Chicago blues scene since the 1960s. He performs both within the U.S. (especially around the Chicago, Illinois area) and internationally, such as at blues festivals in France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

He left Mississippi at the age of 13, settled in Chicago a few years later and took up guitar, listening with special attention to Magic Slim and Chuck Berry.[2]

Rooster Blues' 1980 release of The Chief announced that Clearwater's ascendancy to Chicago blues stardom was officially underway. Two encores for Rooster Blues, Help Yourself (1992) and Mean Case of the Blues (1996), cemented Clearwater's reputation. He became known as a masterful blues showman whose principal goal is to provide his fans with a real good time. Cool Blues Walk followed in 1998, followed by Chicago Daily Blues the next year, with Reservation Blues released in mid 2000. [3]

Clearwater is married to his manager, Renee Greenman. Together they once owned Reservation Blues, a Wicker Park (Chicago) blues bar and restaurant. It is no longer in operation.

On 8 January 1997 Clearwater underwent successful triple heart bypass surgery.[4]

In 2004, he was nominated for a Grammy Award with Los Straitjackets for their collaboration, Rock 'N' Roll City.

His much anticipated 2008 album West Side Strut has been described as "the very best album of his life".[5]

[edit] Name and relations

* Clearwater has been nicknamed The Chief and sometimes wears Native American headdress.[2]

* He is a cousin of the blues harmonica player Carey Bell.[2]

* In the 1950s he played under the pseudonym Guitar Eddy.[6]

* In 1958 he first recorded under the name Clear Waters, a direct reference to Muddy Waters, before shortening the name to a 'surname' Clearwater.[7]
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