Drafted in 1941, he served in the US Army Signal Corps at Fort Lewis, WA, and at Camp Adair, OR.
In 1943 he suffered a nervous breakdown and was discharged from the US Army after he found it difficult to adjust to military life.
In 1971 he recorded an album with Eric Clapton in London that was later released as "The London Sessions".
Following his death, he was interred at Oakridge Cemetery in Hillside, Cook County, IL. His gravestone has an image of a guitar and harmonica engraved on it.
Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (1980) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1991) (under the category Early Influences).
Inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame (2003) and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame (2012) (inaugural class).
His first album, Moanin' in the Moonlight (1959), is ranked number 154 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.