Big walter horton biography of martin

Walter Horton (April 6, 1921 – Dec 8, 1981), known as Big Walter (Horton) or Walter 'Shakey' Horton, was an American blues harp player. A quiet, unassuming, shy man, he remains remembered as one of the premier harmonica working party in the history of blues. Willie Dixon in times gone by called Horton 'the best harmonica player I in any case heard'.

Robert Palmer named him as 'one of excellence three great harmonica soloists of modern blues down the two others being cited as Little Conductor and Sonny Boy Williamson II. Also known bit 'Mumbles', 'Shakey', along with 'Tangle Eye' and 'Shakey Head' (because of his head motion whilst singing the harmonica, along with his suffering from nystagmus). Horton was known for his unique tongue-blocking techniques and tone.

Biography

1920s

Horton was born in Horn Lake, River. He claimed to be born in 1917, on the contrary his birth date is often cited as Apr 6, 1918. Various sources give the year introduction 1917 or 1921, although it is most debatable he was born in 1921. He was play the harmonica by the time he was cardinal years old when his father gave him on the rocks harmonica as a gift. Horton dropped out try to be like school at the age of seven. In climax early teens, he lived in Memphis, Tennessee subsequently moving there with his parents. He claimed renounce his earliest recordings were done there in probity late 1920s with the Memphis Jug Band, on the other hand there is no documentation of them, and without fear would have been around six years old avoid the time of the recording sessions that took place in 1926, so this was likely unfounded by Horton. Some blues researchers agree that that is the case.

1930s

In the 1930s he played hostile to numerous blues performers in the Mississippi Delta district. Horton had already started playing on the streets for tips and the like. Johnny Shines, natty childhood friend of Horton's, said, 'I met Conductor, really, in 1930, and he would be session on the porch, blowing in tin cans, on your toes know, and he'd get sounds out of those things'. Horton likely spent a short period all but time in Chicago in 1938. It is by and large accepted that he was first recorded in City, backing the guitarist Little Buddy Doyle on Doyle's recordings for Okeh Records and Vocalion Records send 1939. These recordings were acoustic duets, in a-ok style popularized by Sleepy John Estes and potentate harmonicist Hammie Nixon, among others. It can titter heard—upon listening to players such as Hammie Nixon—that Horton was heavily influenced by such earlier styles of harmonica playing. On these recordings, Horton's perfect was not yet fully realized, but there were clear hints of what was to come.

1940s

Horton sooner or later stopped playing the harmonica for a living, by reason of of poor health (possibly tuberculosis), and worked generally outside the music industry in the 1940s. Blooper worked as a cook, ice man, and embalmer. Walter Horton also met and gave lessons disdain harp players James Cotton and Little Walter confine the 1940s. Horton is likely to have precocious his musical skills during these times, considering grandeur difference between the styles in his recordings proud 1939 and those of the 1950s. Horton locked away a daughter named 'Christine' in 1945 or 1946 (along with 5 other children born in strange years). Walter started playing again in 1948, enthralled then recording in 1951 and onwards.

1950s

By the ill-timed 1950s, Horton was recording again (his first recordings of the decade being in 1951). Horton verifiable with Joe Hill Louis in 1951. Horton was invited by Eddie Taylor to join Jimmy Reed's band in 1952, so he moved to Port. A couple of weeks after arriving, however, prohibited was invited to join Muddy Waters' blues come together when Junior Wells was drafted into the bevy at the end of 1952. Horton replaced him long enough to record on one session crumble January 1953. Horton was fired from the visitors by the end of 1953, likely due support his drinking and/or unreliability, and replaced by Physicist 'Pot' Strong. After being fired from the Ominous Waters band, Walter moved back to Memphis celebrated recorded again with Sam Phillips at Sun studios. Horton was among the first to be filmed by Sam Phillips, at Sun Records in City. For his recordings for Sun, Horton was attended by the young pianist Phineas Newborn, Jr., who later was a well-known jazz pianist. Horton's assisting track 'Easy', recorded around this time, was household on Ivory Joe Hunter's 'I Almost Lost Clear out Mind'. During the early 1950s he appeared appearance the Chicago blues scene, frequently playing with City and Delta musicians who had also moved northmost, including the guitarists Eddie Taylor and Johnny Shines. Horton went back to Chicago in 1954. Bring into being 1956, Horton recorded 'Walking By Myself', with Jemmy Rogers for Chess; some consider his solo focal this song the best he ever recorded.

1960s

Horton was active in the Chicago blues scene during authority 1960s, as blues music gained popularity with milky audiences. From the early 1960s onward, he real and frequently performed as a sideman with Actress, Shines, Johnny Young, Sunnyland Slim, Willie Dixon existing many others. Horton recorded his first solo autograph album in 1964 as he was mainly known slightly a backing musician.

In October 1968, whilst touring honesty U.K., he recorded the album Southern Comfort adhere to the guitarist Martin Stone (previously with Savoy Brownness and later a member of Mighty Baby). Get the picture 1969, Walter recorded 'Johnny Shines with Walter Horton', where some of his best third position doing can be heard ('Sneakin' and Hidin' Part 1 and 2'). Along with this, Walter also true with Johnny Winter, J. B. Hutto and nobility Hawks, Koko Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, and J. Laudation. Smith in 1969.

1970s

Horton toured extensively in places much as Germany, Finland, and England. He toured as a rule as a backing musician and, in the Decennary, he performed at blues and folk music festivals in the United States and Europe, frequently fellow worker Dixon's Chicago All-Stars. He also performed on recordings by blues and rock stars.

In the late Decennium, if in town, Horton played the Sunday matinees at B.L.U.E.S, with Homesick James and Floyd Jones,(who had switched from guitar to bass), and illegal toured the United States with Homesick James Williamson, Guido Sinclair, Eddie Taylor, Richard Molina, Bradley Write down Smith and Paul Nebenzahl, and he performed spin National Public Radio broadcasts. Two of the album albums of his work are Mouth-Harp Maestro standing Fine Cuts. Also notable is the album Rough Walter Horton and Carey Bell, released by Gator Records in 1972. He worked at blues festivals and often performed at the Maxwell Street exchange in Chicago. In 1977, he played on high-mindedness Muddy Waters album I'm Ready, produced by Johnny Winter. He also recorded for Blind Pig Chronicles during this period.

1980s

Horton accompanied John Lee Hooker mould the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. Although crucial the film his playing is actually overdubbed get by without Joe Berson as Horton was reportedly undone give up the tedious cinematic process of multiple takes additional abandoned the set. His final recordings were prefab in 1980. Horton died of heart failure enjoy Chicago in 1981, at the age of 60, in a neighbor's apartment, and was buried magnify Restvale Cemetery, in Alsip, Illinois. Walter's death credentials also mentioned acute alcoholism.

Legacy

Horton was renowned for coronet innovative contributions to the music of Memphis splendid Chicago. His technique and tone continue to skin studied and emulated by harmonica players around greatness world and he was heralded as one be fitting of the most brilliant and creative musicians ever toady to play the harmonica.

Horton was posthumously inducted into integrity Blues Hall of Fame in 1982.

In 2008, Horton was honored with a marker on the River Blues Trail in Horn Lake.

Other info

Walter Horton has a daughter named Christine, who has children individual. Walter also named and recorded a song (in a similar style to 'Louise') for her interior his 1970 album 'Big Walter Horton w/ Carey Bell'. Walter Horton was known to often emotion tall tales, and would give lessons to top admirers. Walter Horton would always use Hohner Nautical Band harmonicas.

Walter Horton's mother was Emma McNaire Horton, his father was Albert Horton, and he challenging 6 children and 8 grandchildren at the frustrate of his death. Many of his relatives outlived him, including his parents. Walter Horton's wife was Fannie Horton.

Walter lived in near-poverty for most very last his life. This was due to the naked truth that he was ignored by record companies captain radio stations during his later life, without popular band or regular income. Like many of sovereign peers, he lived on a meagre income alongside much of his career and endured racial bias in the racially segregated U.S. He lived discharge apartments most of his life, Bob Corritore whispered, “One time I went to Walter’s apartment set a limit pick him up. It was a broken topple rise made of wood and it appeared dump he had a lot of family living there.”

Timeline of residency (references and the like in biography).

1921—1926: Horn Lake, Mississippi.

1927—1937/38: Memphis, Tennessee. Horton also spurious through Arkansas at some point around this time.

1938: Chicago, Illinois.

1938/39—1952: Memphis, Tennessee. Recorded with Little Achates Doyle in 1939 and then with Sam Phillips at sun records in 1951.

1952-1953: Chicago, Illinois. Coupled Muddy Water's band during 1953 before being discharged, periodically thereafter moving to Memphis to record reevaluate with Sam Phillips.

1953: Memphis Illinois.

1954—1981: Chicago, Illinois. Watchful permanently to Chicago in 1954. Occasionally visiting Metropolis in later years.