Wade Walton
Wade Walton (October 10, 1919 – January 10, 2000)[1][2] was an American blues musician and local civil rights leader from Mississippi. He was also a renowned barber, who counted many famous musicians amongst his friends, colleagues, and customers.
Life and career
Walton was born in Lombardy, Mississippi but grew up near Parchman Farm.[2] He attended barber college in Memphis, Tennessee, and subsequently opened a barber shop in Clarksdale, Mississippi.[2]
Walton was known as the "blues barber"
In 1960, by chance, Robert Curtis Smith met Paul Oliver and Chris Strachwitz in Walton's barber shop. This led to Smith recording, The Blues of Robert Curtis Smith: Clarksdale Blues (1963).[9][10]
Walton played in the Kings of Rhythm with Ike Turner, but stayed in Clarksdale working as a barber when Turner took the group national.[8]
Many musicians and other notable people patronized Walton's barber shop to play music with him or in homage, including Howlin' Wolf,[11] Muddy Waters,[12] Sonny Boy Williamson II, and Allen Ginsberg.[5]
Walton was also a local NAACP leader during the civil rights movement in the early 1960s,[12] resulting in the bombing of his barbershop.[13]
He makes appearances in Bill Ferris's 1975 documentary about the Delta blues, Give My Poor Heart Ease[14] and in Robert Mugge's documentary film Deep Blues: A Musical Pilgrimage to the Crossroads.[5]
Walton died in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 10, 2000, at the age of 80.[15][16]
Legacy
Walton was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail.[17]
Discography
- The Blues of Wade Walton (1962)[8]
- Barbershop Rhythm – Arhoolie Records[4]
- Shake 'Em On Down – Bluesville Records[5]
References
- ^ "Illustrated Wade Walton discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-135-95832-9.
- ISBN 978-1-58157-101-1.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-59181-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-60473-328-0.
- ISBN 978-0-306-81716-8.
- ISBN 978-0-306-80327-7.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4481-3274-4.
- ^ "Robert Curtis Smith Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ^ "R.C. Smith discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-307-83101-9.
- ^ ISBN 0-306-81296-7.
- ISBN 978-0-306-80883-8.
- ISBN 0-8131-0934-5.
- ISBN 9780415926997. Retrieved December 6, 2017 – via Google Books.
- ISBN 9781496813756. Retrieved December 6, 2017 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Wade Walton". Mississippi Blues Trail.