McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 – April 30, 1983), known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the “father of modern Chicago blues”. He was a major inspiration for the British blues explosion in the 1960s and was ranked No. 17 in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Muddy Waters’ Chicago home in the North Kenwood neighborhood will undergo extensive restoration to be transformed into the MOJO Museum.  The museum will provide educational opportunities for youth from both Chicago and the surrounding greater area on the importance of blues legacy and history in America and the world. 

The restoration will revive exterior spaces including the historic masonry façades, the site, and the roof.  While the interior restoration will include both public and private spaces with a lower level “jam session” space – complete with a recording studio – to re-create a lounge where Muddy Waters jammed with other fellow blues musicians and created some of his iconic music.