T-Bone Walker
T-Bone Walker | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Aaron Thibeaux Walker |
Also known as | Oak Cliff T-Bone |
Born | Linden, Texas, U.S. | May 28, 1910
Died | March 16, 1975 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 64)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 1928–1975 |
Labels |
Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker (May 28, 1910 – March 16, 1975) was an American blues musician, composer, songwriter and bandleader, who was a pioneer and innovator of the jump blues, West Coast blues, and electric blues sounds.[1][2] In 2018 Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 67 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".[3]
Biography
1910–1941: early years
Aaron Thibeaux Walker was born in Linden, Texas, of
Walker began his career as a teenager in Dallas in the 1920s. His mother and stepfather were musicians, and Blind Lemon Jefferson, a family friend, sometimes came over for dinner.[5] Walker left school at the age of 10, and by 15,[3] he was a professional performer on the blues circuit. Initially, he was Jefferson's protégé and would guide him around town for his gigs.[4] 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.[1]
Walker married Vida Lee in 1935; the couple had three children.
By the age of 25, Walker was working in clubs on
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.[6]
T-Bone Walker performed at the second famed Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at
Much of his output was recorded from 1946 to 1948 for
Throughout his career Walker worked with top-notch musicians, including the trumpeter Teddy Buckner (e.g. on "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)"[11][12][13]), the pianist Lloyd Glenn,[14] the bassist Billy Hadnott (on the LP Hot Leftovers (1985)[15] and the 78 "Long Skirt Baby Blues"//"Good-Bye Blues" (1947)[16]), and the tenor saxophonist Jack McVea[17] (on the songs "Don't Leave Me Baby"[18] and "No Worry Blues"[19]).
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.[20]
By the early 1960s, Walker's career had slowed down, in spite of an energetic performance at the
Death
Walker's career began to wind down after he suffered a stroke in 1974.[1] He died at his home in Los Angeles of bronchial pneumonia following another stroke in March 1975, at the age of 64.[1][22] He influenced generations of musicians.[23][24]
Legacy
Walker was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980[25] and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.[22][26]
According to
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 [1945; 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 [10"], 1954)
- T-Bone Blues (Atlantic, 1955/1956/1957 [1959])
- 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 [1968]) also released as The Legendary T-Bone Walker
- Stormy Monday Blues (BluesWay, 1967)
- Funky Town (BluesWay, 1968)
- I Want a Little Girl (Delmark, 1968 [1973]) also released as Feelin' the Blues (Black & Blue)
- Good Feelin' (Polydor, 1968 [1969])
- Everyday I Have the Blues (BluesTime, 1969)
- Super Black Blues (BluesTime, 1969) with Big Joe Turner, Otis Spann
- Super Black Blues: Volume II [live] (BluesTime, 1970) with Leon Thomas, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Big Joe Turner
- Stormy Monday Blues (Wet Soul/SSS International, 1970 [1971])
- 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 [France], 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)
- Kidney Stew is Fine(Delmark, 1969) also released as Wee Baby Blues (Black & Blue)
With Jimmy Witherspoon
- Evenin' Blues (Prestige, 1963)
With various artists
- The Greatest Jazz Concert in the World (Pablo, 1967 [1975]) 4-LP box set; Walker does "Woman You Must Be Crazy", and "Stormy Monday".
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Dahl, Bill. "T-Bone Walker Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- ^ Dance, Helen Oakley. "Walker, Aaron Thibeaux (T-Bone)". The Handbook of Texas Online. Denton: Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on 2008-01-27. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
- ^ ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the originalon 22 November 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ^ a b c Nadal, James. "Profile of T-Bone Walker". All About Jazz. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- ^ ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ^ a b Pruter, Robert; Campbell, Robert L. "The Rhumboogie Label". Retrieved 2017-02-15.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ “SHOW TIME” Review by Wendell Green Los Angeles Sentinel Sept. 26, 1946.
- ^ “Woody Herman, 3 Blazers, T-Bone, Others on Program” Review by Eddie Burbridge The California Eagle Sept. 4, 1947
- ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Blues Masters: The Very Best of T-Bone Walker: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-08-30.
- ^ Bader, Brian (2007). ""Call It Stormy Monday But Tuesday is Just as Bad"—T-Bone Walker (1947)" (PDF). Library of Congress. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 20, 2020.
- ^ "Call it Stormy Monday (But Tuesday is Just as Bad) — T-Bone Walker (Black & White, 1947)". The Blues Foundation. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
- ^ "T-Bone Walker" (in Italian).
- ^ "T-Bone Walker – Blues N°2, Atlantic – 332006". Discogs. 30 January 2021. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021.
- ^ "T-Bone WalkerHot Leftovers". Discogs. 1985. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021.
- ^ T-Bone Walker and His Guitar; Willard McDaniels; Billy Hadnott; "Bumps" Myers; John E. Buckner; Oscar Lee Bradley; Henry (6 November 1947). "Good-Bye Blues". Internet Archive. Black & White (123 B).
- ^ "T Bone Walker* With Jack McVea & All Stars* – No Worry Blues / Don't Leave Me Baby". Discogs. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021.
- ^ DON'T LEAVE ME BABY by T-Bone Walker with Jack McVea. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021.
- ^ L.A. Noire: K.T.I. Radio - Bobby Sox Blues - T-Bone Walker. March 23, 2015. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021.
- ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
- ^ "T-Bone Walker: Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-08-30.
- ^ a b "T-Bone Walker Blues Guitarist Career Profile". Blues.about.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-08-30.
- ISSN 0024-5232.
- ^ "SIR ROD & THE BLUES DOCTORS Come Together Modern Blues Harmonica - Album Review" (PDF). p. 35.
- ^ "Performers in Blues Hall of Fame". Blues Foundation. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- ^ "T-Bone Walker: Inducted in 1987". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
- ^ Harper, Johnny. "T-Bone Walker: Blues Guitar Godfather". There Productions. Archived from the original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- ^ Welding, Pete (1991). The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950–1954 (CD booklet). Hollywood, CA: EMI Records USA. pp. 9–10. CDP-7-96737-2.
- ^ Liner notes to Ace, UK, CD entitled "Memphis Wham!"; See also: Dahl, Bill. "Lonnie Mack profile at" (https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p438). allmusic.com. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ "Why Steve Miller Thinks T-Bone Walker Is King of The Electric Guitar". Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- ^ Michael Granberry. "Steve Miller: Dallas set him on his path to stardom", Dallas Morning News, November 28, 2004, Texas Living section, page 2E.
- ^ "50 most important African American music artists of all time". Cleveland.com. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
External links
- "T-Bone Walker". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- T-Bone Walker discography at Discogs
- T-Bone Walker at IMDb
- T-Bone Walker at Find a Grave