Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are picking up the full expenses of electric blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin's funeral. Sumlin, the guitarist for Howlin' Wolf, passed away of heart failure on Dec. 4 and was one of the last great Chicago blues artists. Sumlin was a formative influence on the Rolling Stones -- particularly Richards, who played on Sumlin's 'About Them Shoes,' released in 2006.

According to an earlier report, Jagger said that “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.”

Sumlin's manager and partner Toni Ann expressed that she is overwhelmed with grief and that Sumlin will be eternally etched in her heart. In response to this loving gesture from Jagger and Richards, she replied "God Bless the Rolling Stones."

Sumlin’s public service will be held at the Festa Memorial Funeral Home in Totowa, N.J., on Dec. 12 at 10 AM ET, with a private service to take place the following day in Homewood, Ill.

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