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The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards will pay for the funeral of blues great Hubert Sumlin.

Sumlin’s partner Toni Ann has posted, “I just wanted to share with you, Hubert’s loving fans, that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have insisted on picking up the full expenses for Hubert’s funeral. God Bless the Rolling Stones”.

Hubert Sumlin died on December 4 at the age of 80. Sumlin was one of the last great Chicago blues artists. He was the guitarist for Howlin’ Wolf and last year appeared with Kenny Wayne Shepherd on his ‘Live In Chicago’ album.

Keith Richards played on Sumlin’s 2006 album ‘Them Shoes’.

A private service will be held in Homewood, Illinois on December 13. A public service for fans will be held on December 12 at 10am at the Festa Memorial Funeral Home in Totowa, New Jersey. There will also be a public viewing at the funeral home on December 11 between 2 and 4pm and 7 and 9pm.

Mick Jagger said today, “Hubert was an incisive yet delicate blues player. He had a really distinctive and original tone and was a wonderful foil for Howlin’ Wolf’s growling vocal style. On a song like “Goin’ Down Slow” he could produce heart-rending emotion, and on a piece like “Wang Dang Doodle” an almost playful femininity. He was an inspiration to us all.”

In announcing his death, Toni Ann said in a statement, “It is with a heavy heart that the worse has come to fruition. My little Hubert is living the life of a real angel. I’m overwhelmed with grief and so I really need to pull myself together. I’d really appreciate it if you would kindly respect our privacy during this most difficult time.

“I love you Hubert. You are eternally etched in my heart. And my life is not only richer and blessed for who you’ve been to me, but the world over. And I will never be the same because of you. May you be forever in God’s beautiful grace.

“I’ll spend the rest of my days loving and cherishing all you are and were to me”.