Blues musician Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater died of heart failure at his home in Skokie, Illinois. He was 83.
His label Alligator Records announced his death Friday, June 1, the same day he died.
Clearwater, known for his flamboyant showmanship and guitar skills, was born Edward Harrington in Macon, Mississippi. He began his career by playing with gospel groups such as the Five Blind Boys of Alabama in Birmingham; he was a self-taught guitarist, according to Billboard.
He moved to Chicago in 1950, and eventually signed with Alligator Records as a blues guitarist, but with an additional rock and roll element. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2016.
Clearwater received two Blues Awards over the course of his career and got a Grammy nomination in 2003 for his album Rock ’N’ Roll City, which was nominated in the Best Traditional Blues Album category.
Clearwater is survived by his six children, and his wife, Renee.