Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker (May 28, 1910 – March 16, 1975) was an American

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

musician, composer, songwriter and bandleader, who was a pioneer and innovator of the jump blues, West Coast blues, and electric blues sounds. In 2018 ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

'' magazine ranked him number 67 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

Biography

1910–1941: early years

Aaron Thibeaux Walker was born in Linden, Texas. His parents, Movelia Jimerson and Rance Walker, were both musicians. His stepfather, Marco Washington (a member of the Dallas String Band), taught him to play the guitar, ukulele, banjo,

violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...

, mandolin, and piano. Walker began his career as a teenager in

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

in the 1920s. His mother and stepfather were musicians, and Blind Lemon Jefferson, a family friend, sometimes came over for dinner. Walker left school at the age of 10, and by 15, he was a professional performer on the blues circuit. Initially, he was Jefferson's protégé and would guide him around Deep Ellum, Dallas for his gigs. In 1929, Walker made his recording debut with Columbia Records, billed as Oak Cliff T-Bone, releasing the single "Wichita Falls Blues" backed with "Trinity River Blues". Oak Cliff is the community in which he lived at the time, and T-Bone is a corruption of his middle name. The pianist Douglas Fernell played accompaniment on the record. Walker married Vida Lee in 1935; the couple had three children. By the age of 25, Walker was working in clubs on Central Avenue, in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, sometimes as the featured singer and as guitarist with Les Hite's orchestra. In 1940 he recorded with Hite for the Varsity label, but he was featured only as a singer. He started playing electric guitar in about 1940.

1942–1975: later years

In 1942, Charlie Glenn, the owner of the Rhumboogie Café, brought T-Bone Walker to Chicago for long stints in his club. In 1944 and 1945, Walker recorded for the Rhumboogie label, which was tied to the club, backed up by Marl Young's orchestra. T-Bone Walker performed at the second famed Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles produced by Leon Hefflin Sr. on October 12, 1946. Jack McVea, Slim Gaillard, The Honeydrippers, Lionel Hampton and his Orchestra, and Louis Armstrong were also on the program. He performed for the third Cavalcade of Jazz concert held in the same location on September 7, 1947, along with Woody Herman as Emcee, The Valdez Orchestra, The Blenders, The Honeydrippers, Slim Gaillard, Johnny Otis and his Orchestra, Toni Harper, The Three Blazers, and Sarah Vaughan. Much of his output was recorded from 1946 to 1948 for Black & White Records, including his most famous song, " Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)" (1947). Other notable songs he recorded during this period were "Bobby Sox Blues" (a number 3 R&B hit in 1947) and "West Side Baby" (number 8 on the R&B singles chart in 1948). T-Bone Walker 1972

Throughout his career Walker worked with top-notch musicians, including the

trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...

er Teddy Buckner (e.g. on " Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)"), the pianist Lloyd Glenn, the bassist Billy Hadnott (on the LP ''Hot Leftovers'' (1985) and the 78 "Long Skirt Baby Blues"//"Good-Bye Blues" (1947)), and the tenor saxophonist Jack McVea (on the songs "Don't Leave Me Baby" and "No Worry Blues"). He recorded from 1950 to 1954 for Imperial Records (backed by Dave Bartholomew). Walker's only record in the next five years was ''T-Bone Blues'', recorded during three widely separated sessions in 1955, 1956 and 1957 and released by Atlantic Records in 1959. By the early 1960s, Walker's career had slowed down, in spite of an energetic performance at the American Folk Blues Festival in 1962 with the pianist Memphis Slim and the prolific writer and musician

Willie Dixon William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...

, among others. However, several critically acclaimed albums followed, such as ''I Want a Little Girl'' (recorded for Delmark Records in 1968). Walker recorded in his last years, from 1968 to 1975, for Robin Hemingway's music publishing company, Jitney Jane Songs. He won a Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording in 1970 for ''Good Feelin, while signed with

Polydor Records Polydor Limited, also known as Polydor Records, is a British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in ...

, produced by Hemingway, followed by another album produced by Hemingway, ''Fly Walker Airlines'', released in 1972.

Death

Walker's career began to wind down after he suffered a

stroke Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...

in 1974. He died at his home in

of bronchial pneumonia following another stroke in March 1975, at the age of 64. He influenced generations of musicians.

Legacy

Walker was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and de ...

named Walker and

Louis Jordan Louis Thomas Jordan (July 8, 1908 – February 4, 1975) was an American saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and bandleader who was popular from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Known as "Honorific nicknames in popular music, the King ...

as his main influences. B.B. King cited hearing Walker's recording of "Stormy Monday" as his inspiration for getting an electric guitar. In his 1996 autobiography, King commented that when he first heard Walker, he thought "Jesus Himself had returned to earth playing electric guitar. T-Bone's blues filled my insides with joy and good feeling. I became his disciple. And remain so today. My biggest musical debt is to T-Bone." Blues-rock soloing pioneer Lonnie Mack named Walker his principal blues guitar influence. Walker was admired by

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...

, who imitated Walker's trick of playing the guitar with his teeth. Steve Miller stated that in 1952, when he was eight, Walker taught him how to play his guitar behind his back and also with his teeth. He was a family friend and a frequent visitor to Miller's family home and Miller considers him a major influence on his career.Michael Granberry. "Steve Miller: Dallas set him on his path to stardom", ''Dallas Morning News'', November 28, 2004, Texas Living section, page 2E. "Stormy Monday" was a favorite live number of the Allman Brothers Band. The British rock band Jethro Tull covered Walker's "Stormy Monday" in 1968 for John Peel's "Top Gear". Eva Cassidy performed "Stormy Monday" on her 1996 '' Live at Blues Alley'' recording. According to Cleveland.com, Walker may have been the best R&B guitarist. He "pioneered electric blues by becoming the first artist to make the electric guitar a solo instrument and a true centerpiece of his stunning live shows".

Discography

As leader

* "Wichita Falls Blues"//"Trinity River Blues" (Columbia, 1929) as 'Oak Cliff T-Bone' * "T-Bone Blues" (Varsity, 1940) with Les Hite And His Orchestra * " Mean Old World"//"I Got a Break, Baby" (1942 945; 1948 * "Evening" (1944) * "Bobby Sox Blues" (1946) * "I'm in an Awful Mood" (1946) * "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)" (1947) * "Long Skirt Baby Blues"//"Good-Bye Blues" (1947) * "I Want a Little Girl" (1948) * "West Side Baby" (1948) * "T-Bone Shuffle" (1948) * "Hypin' Women Blues" (1949) * "Glamour Girl"//"Strollin' With Bones" (1950) * "The Hustle is On" (1950) * "Cold Cold Feeling" (1952) * ''Classics in Jazz'' ( Capitol 0" 1954) * ''T-Bone Blues'' ( Atlantic, 1955/1956/1957 959 * ''Sings the Blues'' ( Imperial, 1960) * ''I Get So Weary'' (Imperial, 1961) * ''The Great Blues Vocals and Guitar of T-Bone Walker (His Original 1945–1950 Performances)'' (Capitol, 1963) * "Hey Hey Baby"//"Should I Let Her Go" ( Modern, 1965) * ''The Truth'' ( Brunswick, 1966 968 also released as ''The Legendary T-Bone Walker'' * '' Stormy Monday Blues'' ( BluesWay, 1967) * '' Funky Town'' (BluesWay, 1968) * ''I Want a Little Girl'' ( Delmark, 1968 973 also released as ''Feelin' the Blues'' ( Black & Blue) * '' Good Feelin''' ( Polydor, 1968 969 * '' Everyday I Have the Blues'' ( BluesTime, 1969) * '' Super Black Blues'' (BluesTime, 1969) with

Big Joe Turner Joseph Vernon "Big Joe" Turner Jr. (May 18, 1911 – November 24, 1985) was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri. According to songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him". Turner's greatest fa ...

, Otis Spann * ''Super Black Blues: Volume II'' ive(BluesTime, 1970) with Leon Thomas, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Big Joe Turner * ''Stormy Monday Blues'' (Wet Soul/ SSS International, 1970 971 * ''Fly Walker Airlines (Live in Montreux)'' (Polydor, 1972) * ''Well Done'' (Home Cooking, 1973) also released as ''Back on the Scene: Texas 1966'' * ''Very Rare'' ( Reprise, 1973) 2-LP * ''Hot Leftovers'' (Imperial rance 1985)

As sideman

With Norman Granz' Jazz At The Philharmonic * ''J.A.T.P. in London, 1969'' ( Pablo, 1989) 2-LP; Walker does 3 songs: "Woman You Must Be Crazy", "Goin' To Chicago", and "Stormy Monday". With Jay McShann * ''Confessin' the Blues'' (Black & Blue, 1970; Classic Jazz, 1978) With Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson * '' Kidney Stew is Fine'' (Delmark, 1969) also released as ''Wee Baby Blues'' (Black & Blue) With

Jimmy Witherspoon James Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American jump blues and jazz singer. Early life, family and education Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. His father was a railroad worker who sang in local choirs, an ...

* '' Evenin' Blues'' ( Prestige, 1963) With various artists * '' The Greatest Jazz Concert in the World'' (Pablo, 1967 975 4-LP box set; Walker does "Woman You Must Be Crazy", and "Stormy Monday".

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, T-Bone 1910 births 1975 deaths People from Linden, Texas African-American guitarists African-American male singer-songwriters American male singer-songwriters American blues singer-songwriters American blues guitarists American male guitarists American blues mandolinists American blues pianists American male pianists 20th-century male pianists American street performers Musicians from Dallas Grammy Award winners Deaths from bronchopneumonia Deaths from pneumonia in California Burials at Inglewood Park Cemetery Singer-songwriters from Texas Electric blues musicians Atlantic Records artists Brunswick Records artists Capitol Records artists Charly Records artists Columbia Records artists Duke Records artists Imperial Records artists Modern Records artists Polydor Records artists Reprise Records artists Texas blues musicians West Coast blues musicians 20th-century American guitarists Guitarists from Texas People from Oak Cliff, Texas 20th-century American pianists African-American pianists 20th-century African-American male singers 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singers African-American mandolinists African-American banjoists African-American violinists