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T-Bone Walker

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Aaron Thibeaux Walker, known as T-Bone Walker, was born in 1910 in Linden, Texas, into a musical family. His stepfather taught him guitar, banjo, violin, mandolin and piano, and Blind Lemon Jefferson, a friend of the family, sometimes came to dinner. At fifteen he was a professional musician. In 1929 he made his first record, under the name Oak Cliff T-Bone, with Wichita Falls Blues. In the 1930s he sang in clubs in Los Angeles and played guitar in the orchestra of Les Hite. Around 1940 he began to play electric guitar.

Music and breakthrough

In 1942 he moved to Chicago. His best-known song is Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad), recorded in 1947 for Black and White Records. Bobby Sox Blues and West Side Baby also did well. From 1950 to 1954 he recorded for Imperial, with Dave Bartholomew. In 1962 he played at the American Folk Blues Festival. In 1970 he won a Grammy for Good Feelin'. He died in 1975, after two strokes.

Influence

Walker was a pioneer of jump blues, West Coast blues and electric blues. He played smooth, melodic guitar solos with a soft, jazzy tone, and sang with a warm voice. Many later blues guitarists adopted his approach, and Rolling Stone placed him at number 67 on its list of the greatest guitarists of all time in 2018.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad) and notice the slow, warm vocals and the short guitar lines that answer between the phrases.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists