T-Bone Walker (Aaron Thibeaux Walker, May 28, 1910, Linden, Texas — March 1… Read Full Bio ↴T-Bone Walker (Aaron Thibeaux Walker, May 28, 1910, Linden, Texas — March 16, 1975, Los Angeles, California) was an American blues guitarist, singer, pianist and songwriter who was one of the most important pioneers of the electric guitar. His electric guitar solos were among the first heard on modern blues recordings and helped set a standard that is still followed.
Walker was born in Linden, Texas of African and Cherokee descent. Walker's parents, Movelia Jimerson and Rance Walker, were both musicians. His stepfather, Marco Washington, taught him to play the guitar, ukulele, banjo, violin, mandolin and piano.
Early in the 1920s, the teenage Walker learned his craft among the street-strolling string bands of Dallas. His mother and stepfather (a member of the Dallas String Band) were musicians, and family friend Blind Lemon Jefferson sometimes joined the family for dinner. Walker left school at age 10, and by 15, he was a professional performer on the blues circuit. Initially, he was Jefferson's protégé and would guide him around town for his gigs. In 1929, Walker made his recording debut with a single for Columbia Records, "Wichita Falls Blues"/"Trinity River Blues," billed as Oak Cliff T-Bone. Oak Cliff was the community he lived in at the time and T-Bone a corruption of his middle name. Pianist Douglas Fernell was his musical partner for the record.
Walker married Vida Lee in 1935 and the couple had three children. By the age of 26 Walker was working the clubs in Los Angeles' Central Avenue, sometimes as the featured singer and guitarist with Les Hite's orchestra.
His distinctive sound developed in 1942 when Walker recorded "Mean Old World" for Capitol Records. Much of his output was recorded from 1946–1948 on Black & White Records, including 1947's "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)", with its famous opening line, "They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad". He followed up with his "T-Bone Shuffle" and "Let Your Hair Down, Baby, Let's Have a Natural Ball". Both are considered blues classics.
Throughout his career Walker worked with the top quality musicians, including Teddy Buckner (trumpet), Lloyd Glenn (piano), Billy Hadnott (bass), and Jack McVea (tenor sax).
Following his work with Black & White, he recorded from 1950-54 for Imperial Records (backed by Dave Bartholomew). Walker's only record in the next five years was T-Bone Blues, recorded over three widely separated sessions in 1955, 1956 and 1959, and finally released by Atlantic Records in 1960.
By the early 1960s, Walker's career had slowed down, in spite of a hyped appearance at the American Folk Blues Festival in 1962 with Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon, among others. A few critically acclaimed albums followed, such as I Want a Little Girl. Walker recorded in his last years, 1968 - 1975, for Robin Hemingway's Jitney Jane Songs music publishing company, and he won a Grammy Award in 1971 for Good Feelin' (Polydor), produced by Robin Hemingway. "Fly Walker Airlines", Polydor, also produced by Hemingway, was released in 1973.
T-Bone Walker died in 1975, at the age of 64. He is interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Walker's influence extended beyond his music. Chuck Berry called Walker and Louis Jordan (as well as Jordan's guitarist, Carl Hogan) his main influences. T-Bone Walker was the childhood hero of Jimi Hendrix, and Hendrix imitated some of Walker's ways throughout his life. Years before Hendrix, Walker was playing guitar with his teeth or in strange positions.
Walker was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980, and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987
Walker was born in Linden, Texas of African and Cherokee descent. Walker's parents, Movelia Jimerson and Rance Walker, were both musicians. His stepfather, Marco Washington, taught him to play the guitar, ukulele, banjo, violin, mandolin and piano.
Early in the 1920s, the teenage Walker learned his craft among the street-strolling string bands of Dallas. His mother and stepfather (a member of the Dallas String Band) were musicians, and family friend Blind Lemon Jefferson sometimes joined the family for dinner. Walker left school at age 10, and by 15, he was a professional performer on the blues circuit. Initially, he was Jefferson's protégé and would guide him around town for his gigs. In 1929, Walker made his recording debut with a single for Columbia Records, "Wichita Falls Blues"/"Trinity River Blues," billed as Oak Cliff T-Bone. Oak Cliff was the community he lived in at the time and T-Bone a corruption of his middle name. Pianist Douglas Fernell was his musical partner for the record.
Walker married Vida Lee in 1935 and the couple had three children. By the age of 26 Walker was working the clubs in Los Angeles' Central Avenue, sometimes as the featured singer and guitarist with Les Hite's orchestra.
His distinctive sound developed in 1942 when Walker recorded "Mean Old World" for Capitol Records. Much of his output was recorded from 1946–1948 on Black & White Records, including 1947's "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)", with its famous opening line, "They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad". He followed up with his "T-Bone Shuffle" and "Let Your Hair Down, Baby, Let's Have a Natural Ball". Both are considered blues classics.
Throughout his career Walker worked with the top quality musicians, including Teddy Buckner (trumpet), Lloyd Glenn (piano), Billy Hadnott (bass), and Jack McVea (tenor sax).
Following his work with Black & White, he recorded from 1950-54 for Imperial Records (backed by Dave Bartholomew). Walker's only record in the next five years was T-Bone Blues, recorded over three widely separated sessions in 1955, 1956 and 1959, and finally released by Atlantic Records in 1960.
By the early 1960s, Walker's career had slowed down, in spite of a hyped appearance at the American Folk Blues Festival in 1962 with Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon, among others. A few critically acclaimed albums followed, such as I Want a Little Girl. Walker recorded in his last years, 1968 - 1975, for Robin Hemingway's Jitney Jane Songs music publishing company, and he won a Grammy Award in 1971 for Good Feelin' (Polydor), produced by Robin Hemingway. "Fly Walker Airlines", Polydor, also produced by Hemingway, was released in 1973.
T-Bone Walker died in 1975, at the age of 64. He is interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Walker's influence extended beyond his music. Chuck Berry called Walker and Louis Jordan (as well as Jordan's guitarist, Carl Hogan) his main influences. T-Bone Walker was the childhood hero of Jimi Hendrix, and Hendrix imitated some of Walker's ways throughout his life. Years before Hendrix, Walker was playing guitar with his teeth or in strange positions.
Walker was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980, and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987
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The Complete Recordings of T-Bone Walker 1940-1954
T-Bone Walker Lyrics
Alimony Blues It's a cold-blooded world When a man has to pawn his…
Blues Is A Woman Blues is a woman. That woman I call my own. Blues is…
Bobby Sox Blues Bobby Sox, baby, I've got to let you go Bobby Sox,…
Call It Stormy Monday They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad They…
Doin' Time you know i love you but you got me doin…
Don't Leave Me Baby Don't leave me baby cos I want ya by…
Evening Evening, every night you come and you find me And you…
Everytime Every time I see my baby passin' by Everytime I feel…
Evil Hearted Woman How can you be so evil baby, And still say you…
Get These Blues Off Me please don't be angry with me cause i've gone away i've…
Glamour Girl Glamour girl, glamour girl. I'm cutting out on you You just …
Got No Use For You You know that I love you And I try to treat…
Here In The Dark Well I'm here in the dark, And I can't see the…
High Society i've got a society woman she gets the best of everything yes…
Hypin' Woman Blues Blues is a woman. That woman I call my own. Blues is…
I Get so Weary I get so weary in the evenin when the suns…
I Got a Break Baby It was way last winter baby And the ground was covered…
I Got the Blues sometimes i sang the blues when I know i should…
I Got the Blues Again i should be crying over you baby but you've been so…
I Miss You Baby i have misse dyou baby and my patience running out i have…
I Want a Little Girl I want a little girl, call my own. She must be…
I'll Always Be in Love with You Sweetheart if you should stray a million miles away I'll alw…
I'm About To Lose My Mind You broke my heart, baby just one too many time You…
I'm gonna find my baby mienteme, engañame pero no me lastimes mienteme, engañame pe…
I'm Still in Love with You Sweetheart if you should stray a million miles away I'll alw…
It's a Low Down Dirty Deal It's great to be rich and a doggone shame to…
Life Is Too Short my pretty baby don't have eyes for me no more she…
Lollie Lou Hey sista lollie lou, Where are you going to? Hey sista Loll…
Lonesome Woman Blues Blues is a woman. That woman I call my own. Blues is…
Long Distance Blues Hello long distance Put my baby on the line. Hello long dist…
Long Skirt Baby Blues When I first met you baby, you were a real…
Love Is a Gamble Love is Just a gamble. Say just what you wanna say. Love…
Mean Old World This is a mean old world Baby to live in by…
Midnight Blues Well, the clock is strikin' twelve, somebody's got to go…
News For My Baby i got news for you baby thinigs ain't like they used…
Party Girl Party girl, party girl. Why don't you stay at home. Party gi…
Railroad Station Blues Train rolled into the station, But my baby couldnt be found.…
So Blue Blues I love my baby, she's so mean to me Yes I…
Street Walking Woman I've got a street walkin' woman She stays tall and twisted…
T-Bone Blues I love my baby, she's so mean to me Yes I…
T-Bone Shuffle Let your hair down baby Let's have a natural ball Let your…
Tell Me What's The Reason tell me whats the reason you keep on teasin me you…
The Sun Went Down when the sun rose this morning i was standing in…
Through With Women i'm through with woman i'm done with love i didn't get that…
Travelin' Blues i been travellin travellin don't know where to go i been eve…
Triflin' Woman Blues Blues is a woman. That woman I call my own. Blues is…
Vida Lee How could you do that? How could you do that to…
Welcome Blues cmon pretty baby heard you got a boyfriend you don't want…
West Side Baby I've got a west side baby She lives way across town *I've…
You Don't Love Me you don't love me, i don't even care you don't love…
You Don't Understand tried to treat you nice and kind but you wouldn't pay…
You Just Wanted To Use Me you didn't care for me baby until i started running…
You're My Best Poker Hand I've got a five card hand and I don't know…