Cindi: I owe all I know about my appreciation of blues music to Mike Lovato. So hearing Hubert play for the first time at the 2005 Blues Music Award show was a real treat for me. Mike told me what a significant figure he was in the history of this great music. Meeting him that night was a thrill.

He was so personable. He shared his experience of being a cancer survivor and living with one lung. It was only three years earlier that he had a lung removed. His joy of life and childlike enthusiasm about everything was contagious. I told him about my work as an artist. I told him how I paint with my mouth since I cannot use my hands as a result of an accident 18 years ago. He gave that "get out of here" look and squealed with laughter. Mike gave him my business card to prove I was telling the truth. He looked at the card then a serious look came over his face. Then he flashed the biggest grin I have ever seen. Words were not necessary. He put his hand to his heart and I knew that my story touched him. What he didn't know was that he touched my heart and inspired me to want to paint his portrait someday.

Mike: I first learned about Hubert Sumlin through listening to his music but I felt like I got to know him better after reading Howlin’ Wolf's book “Moanin’ at Midnight: The Life and times of Howlin’ Wolf.”As Cindi said, meeting Hubert for the first time was a treat for me. It was magical. It was an awesome evening in itself just to be at the WC Handy Awards. The chance meeting with the great Hubert Sumlin made my evening complete.

We had someone take our photo with him and you could see the joy and light in his big smile. He was so down to earth, enthusiastic and sincere. I went out and bought the book, Incurable Blues: The Troubles and Triumph of Blues Legend Hubert Sumlin.

Our next encounter with Hubert was the very next year. We were attending the Blues Music Award Show and took a side trip to Clarksdale, Mississippi. We spent the evening at Morgan Freeman's juke joint called Ground Zero. Performing that night was Big George Brock and, to our surprise and delight, was the great Hubert Sumlin.

I spent the entire evening at the front of the stage mesmerized, as Hubert looked down at me and smiled. I took picture after picture as well as videotape. I'm sure I looked ridiculous with one hand holding a video camera and the other juggling my still camera nevertheless it is an evening I'll cherish forever.

Cindi: We were thrilled to learn that in 2009 we would be able to see Hubert again up close and personal at a blues club in the Los Angeles community of Sherman Oaks, called Cozy's. Again Mike was able to get some great photographs and video. We wanted to meet him afterwards and get a photo with him but it was nearly impossible as he was surrounded by "people protecting him". We politely asked if we could get a picture with him and he graciously obliged ignoring all his “people”.

The last time as it turned out to visit with Hubert, was in October, 2010. We were in attendance at the simply spectacular event at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Arizona called Amanda’s Roller Coaster. It was a wonderful three day weekend featuring the best musicians in the world backing up and playing with the best harmonica players in the world.

Hubert arrived looking a little tired and was using his oxygen tank as he had when we saw him perform for the Perfect Age of Rock n Roll Tour in April, 2010, just a few months earlier in Santa Ana, Ca. After Hubert's performance at the Rhythm Room, Mike and I were both able to go backstage to ask him to sign a painting that I was donating to a silent auction. As it went with all of our other encounters he was so gracious, joyful, full of life and laughter. We didn't know it would be the last time we were to see him.

As an artist, when I see a good face, I want to paint it.  I want most to paint a face that expresses complete joy, just by looking into that person’s eyes. Hubert’s face fits that description more than anyone I have ever met. The first time I painted Hubert’s portrait was for a silent auction to raise money for The Blues Foundation. I was inspired by one of Mike's photos from our experience with Hubert in Clarksdale a few years earlier.

Then in 2011, I was commissioned by Canadian blues musician JW Jones to paint a painting of him playing with Hubert. I took the artistic license and spliced two photographs together for my reference. JW supplied me with a photograph of himself. For my reference point of Hubert I used a photograph Mike took at Amanda’s Roller Coaster. (See photo) as I look back I’m so grateful to have had the opportunities to have met, talked to, and painted one of the greatest blues musicians of all time. What made him my favorite was his attitude. He loved life.  He loved doing what he did. He also loved people and it showed. He is the epitome of my favorite quote "you may not remember what a person says or what a person does but you will always remember how they made you feel" and Hubert always made us feel as if we had been friends forever. We will certainly miss you Mr. Sumlin. Don't rest in peace but play in paradise.



Moanin' at Midnight: The Life and Times of Howlin' Wolf

James Segrest & Mark Hoffman

Incurable Blues:
The Troubles & Triumph of Blues Legend Hubert Sumlin

Will Romano