Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker (May 28, 1910 – March 16, 1975) was an American blues musician, composer, songwriter, and bandleader. He helped create and improve the jump blues, West Coast blues, and electric blues styles. In 2018, Rolling Stone magazine listed him as number 67 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."

Biography

Aaron Thibeaux Walker was born in Linden, Texas. His parents, Movelia Jimerson and Rance Walker, were both musicians. His stepfather, Marco Washington, who was part of the Dallas String Band, taught him to play the guitar, ukulele, banjo, violin, mandolin, and piano.

Walker began his career as a teenager in Dallas in the 1920s. His stepfather was a musician, and Blind Lemon Jefferson, a family friend, sometimes visited for dinner. Walker left school at the age of 10 and became a professional performer on the blues circuit by the time he was 15. At first, he was Jefferson’s student and helped him prepare for performances in Deep Ellum, Dallas. In 1929, Walker made his first recording with Columbia Records, billed as Oak Cliff T-Bone. He released the single "Wichita Falls Blues," with "Trinity River Blues" on the other side. Oak Cliff was the community where he lived, and T-Bone was a variation of his middle name. The pianist Douglas Fernell played on the recording.

Walker married Vida Lee in 1935. The couple had three children.

By the age of 25, Walker was performing in clubs on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. He sometimes sang and played guitar with Les Hite’s orchestra. In 1940, he recorded with Hite for the Varsity label, but he was only featured as a singer. He began playing the electric guitar around 1940.

In 1942, Charlie Glenn, the owner of the Rhumboogie Café, brought T-Bone Walker to Chicago for long periods at his club. In 1944 and 1945, Walker recorded for the Rhumboogie label, which was connected to the club. He was accompanied by Marl Young’s orchestra during these sessions.

T-Bone Walker performed at the second Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles on October 12, 1946. The event was produced by Leon Hefflin Sr. Other performers included Jack McVea, Slim Gaillard, The Honeydrippers, Lionel Hampton and his Orchestra, and Louis Armstrong. He also performed at the third Cavalcade of Jazz concert on September 7, 1947, alongside Woody Herman as the host, The Valdez Orchestra, The Blenders, The Honeydrippers, Slim Gaillard, Johnny Otis and his Orchestra, Toni Harper, The Three Blazers, and Sarah Vaughan.

Most of his recordings from 1946 to 1948 were made for Black & White Records. This period included his most famous song, "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)" (1947). Other well-known songs from this time 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).

Throughout his career, Walker performed with highly skilled musicians, including trumpeter Teddy Buckner (on "Call It Stormy Monday"), pianist Lloyd Glenn, bassist Billy Hadnott (on the LP Hot Leftovers (1985) and the songs "Long Skirt Baby Blues"/"Good-Bye Blues" (1947)), and tenor saxophonist Jack McVea (on "Don't Leave Me Baby" and "No Worry Blues").

From 1950 to 1954, Walker recorded for Imperial Records, accompanied by Dave Bartholomew. His only recordings in the next five years were T-Bone Blues, made during three separate sessions in 1955, 1956, and 1957. The record was released by Atlantic Records in 1959.

By the early 1960s, Walker’s career slowed, even though he performed energetically at the American Folk Blues Festival in 1962 with pianist Memphis Slim and musician Willie Dixon. Later, he released several highly praised albums, such as I Want a Little Girl (Delmark Records, 1968). From 1968 to 1975, he recorded for Robin Hemingway’s music publishing company, Jitney Jane Songs. In 1970, he won a Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording for Good Feelin’, while signed with Polydor Records and produced by Hemingway. He later released another album, Fly Walker Airlines, in 1972, also produced by Hemingway.

Death

After a stroke in 1974, Walker's career began to slow down. In March 1975, he had another stroke. He died from bronchial pneumonia at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 64.

Legacy

Walker was added to the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 after he died. Chuck Berry said that Walker and Louis Jordan were his main influences. B.B. King said that hearing Walker's recording of "Stormy Monday" inspired him to get an electric guitar. In his 1996 autobiography, King wrote that when he first heard Walker, he believed "Jesus Himself had returned to earth playing electric guitar." He said Walker's music made him feel joy and good feelings, and he became Walker's follower. He still considers Walker a major influence on his music. Blues-rock guitarist Lonnie Mack said Walker was his main influence for playing the blues guitar. Jimi Hendrix admired Walker and copied his technique of playing the guitar with his teeth. Steve Miller said that in 1952, when he was eight years old, Walker taught him how to play the guitar behind his back and with his teeth. Walker was a family friend and often visited Miller's home. Miller considers Walker a major influence on his career. The Allman Brothers Band often performed "Stormy Monday" live. The British rock band Jethro Tull covered Walker's "Stormy Monday" in 1968 for John Peel's "Top Gear" radio show. Eva Cassidy performed "Stormy Monday" on her 1996 recording "Live at Blues Alley." Walker influenced many musicians over the years. According to Cleveland.com, he may have been the best R&B guitarist. He "pioneered electric blues by being the first artist to make the electric guitar a solo instrument and a central part of his live performances."

Discography

• "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)

With Norman Granz Jazz At The Philharmonic

• J.A.T.P. in London, 1969 (Pablo, 1989) Double LP; Walker supplied three songs: "Woman You Must Be Crazy," "Goin' To Chicago," and "Stormy Monday"

• 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

• Evenin' Blues (Prestige, 1963)

• The Greatest Jazz Concert in the World (Pablo, 1967 [1975]) Four LP box set; Walker's tracks were "Woman You Must Be Crazy" and "Stormy Monday"