Willie Kent, at 70; legendary bassist

CHICAGO -- Willie Kent, the legendary Chicago bassist who backed up such blues greats as Little Walter, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf, died Thursday. He was 70.

Mr. Kent died of cancer at his home, said Patrick McCoy, general manager of Blue Chicago, which held a benefit fund-raiser in August to raise money for Mr. Kent's medical bills.

Mr. Kent was born in Inverness, Miss., and by 1952 the 16-year-old had arrived in Chicago, where he became a regular at nightclubs and started playing music with a friend's band.

Big Ray Stewart, who played with Mr. Kent for several years, called his friend ''the godfather" of Chicago blues.

Throughout his career, Mr. Kent played with a who's who of blues performers. For the past two decades he was the front man for Willie Kent and the Gents.

Before 1989, he had only two recordings available, but had appeared on dozens of other artists' albums as the backing bassist. He went on to record at least 10 albums, according to his website.