Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater (born January 10, 1935; died June 1, 2018) was a versatile, flamboyant Chicago blues rocker who performed good-natured party music and original, deep, melancholy blues with equal finesse. "It's country and blues and rock 'n' roll combined...high energy music," Clearwater said of his trademark sound. Born January 10, 1935 in Macon, MS, Eddy Clearwater (birth name: Eddie Harrington) grew up listening to Delta blues and country & western records.