One of the prime movers of Chicago blues (not to mention post-war blues in general), Willie Dixon influenced the beginnings of both rock 'n' roll and electric blues. An accomplished bassist, Dixon was known primarily for his songwriting. He recorded for several labels during his life, but his greatest success came with Chess Records in the '50s and early '60s, where he acted as a producer and songwriter for the likes of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. Years later, many of the same tunes were redone by rockers from The Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin.