Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, + more - Songwriting Royalties

 “Mannish Boy” is a defining Chicago electric blues anthem, originally recorded in 1955 by Muddy Waters for Chess Records and written with Mel London and Bo Diddley. It stands as one of the most covered and widely performed blues standards of the modern era. The song’s lasting impact is underscored by its induction into the Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame as a Classic of Blues Recording and its frequent inclusion on all-time blues rankings, including those published by Rolling Stone. Its cultural reach expanded through prominent placement in Goodfellas and extensive licensing across film, television, and advertising. Decades after its release, “Mannish Boy” remains one of the most recognizable and enduring works in the blues canon, bridging traditional Chicago blues with mainstream rock audiences.

“Little by Little” and “Messin’ with the Kid,” both first recorded in 1960 by Junior Wells featuring Buddy Guy, stand as foundational Chicago electric blues standards from the Chess Records era. Built around driving grooves and sharp call-and-response phrasing, the tracks became cornerstones of the Chicago blues repertoire and later gained renewed visibility during the 1960s British blues and broader blues-rock revival movements. Both songs have endured as live staples, performed by artists such as The Blues Brothers, Rory Gallagher, and others, helping bridge traditional electric blues with wider rock audiences and carry the Chicago sound to international stages.

Earnings Note. The seller is an heir to the catalog and began receiving royalty statements in 1Q2022 following the estate transfer. Historical statements before that date are unavailable from the current payee account. 

Earnings Note Regarding Copyright Length. The highest-earning composition in the catalog, “Mannish Boy,” was first recorded in 1955. According to U.S. copyright law, the copyright was automatically renewed for a term of 95 years from the creation date.  That means that the copyright for “Mannish Boy” will be valid through at least 2051. 

The five highest-earning songs are all subject to the 95-year length, and their copyrights will expire as follows:

“Mannish Boy”: Expires 2051
“Little By Little”: Expires 2055
"Messing With The Kid": Expires 2055
“When Things Go Wrong”: Expires 2052
"Sugar Sweet": Expires 2052

After the copyrights expire, the compositions will enter the public domain and will no longer be eligible to earn royalties.