|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHORTON, Walter 'Shakey'(b 6 April '17, Horn Lake MS; d 8 Dec. '82) Harmonica. Self-taught at age five, recorded with Memphis Jug Band '27, toured South with various groups, settled in Chicago from c'40, working Maxwell Street for tips: became the father of modern Chicago blues harp, infl. on the younger Little Walter and James Cotton. Recorded in Memphis for Modern/RPM '51, Chess and Sun '52; worked and recorded in Chicago on Chess, Cobra, States with Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines, Otis Rush, his own combo, etc; appeared in UK film American Folk Blues Festival '68, Good Mornin' Blues '78 for PBS-TV. Still worked Maxwell Street for tips '74. Records as a sideman are uncountable; in the early '50s he alternated with Little Walter on Muddy Waters classics; on a few they both played. Horton's own albums incl. Can't Keep Loving You and Fine Cuts on Blind Pig; Big Walter Horton/Carey Bell on Alligator USA, Sonet UK; The Deep Blues Harmonica Of Walter Horton on JSP UK; An Offer You Can't Refuse with Paul Butterfield on Red Lightnin' UK. Harmonica Blues Kings: Big Walter/Alfred Harris '86 on Delmark-Pearl incl. six sides made for United '54 with Willie Dixon, Memphis Slim. |