Little Walter

Little Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs (May 1, 1930 – February 15, 1968), was an American blues harmonica player, whose revolutionary approach to his instrument has earned him comparisons to Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix, for innovation and impact on succeeding generations.  His virtuosity and musical innovations fundamentally altered many listeners' expectations of what was possible on blues harmonica.  Little Walter was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 in the sideman category making him the first and only artist ever to be inducted specifically for his work as a harmonica player.

Little Walter joined Muddy Waters' band in 1948, and by 1950, he was playing accoustic (unamplified) harmonica on Muddy's recordings for Chess Records.  The first appearance on record of Little Walter's amplified harmonica sound was on Muddy's Country Boy, recorded on July 11, 1951.  For years after his departure from Muddy's band in 1952, Little Walter continued to be brought in to play on his recording sessions, and as a result his harmonica is featured on most of Muddy's classic recordings from the 1950s.

Little Walter's solo career began with the recording of Juke for Chess's subsidiary label Checker Records on 12 May 1952.  Juke spent eight weeks in the number-one position on the Billboard R&B chart.  It is, still today, the only harmonica instrumental ever to become a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B.  Little Walter scored a total of fourteen top-ten hits on the Billboard R&B charts between 1952 and 1958, including his second number-one hit My Babe in 1955.  Walter enjoyed a level of commercial success never achieved by his former boss Muddy Waters, nor by his fellow Chess blues artists Howlin' Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson II. Most of Little Walter's single releases in the 1950s featured a vocal performance on one side, and a harmonica instrumental on the other.  Many of Walter's vocal numbers were originals which he or Chess A&R man Willie Dixon wrote or adapted and updated from earlier blues themes.  In general, his sound was more modern and uptempo than the popular Chicago blues of the day, with a jazzier conception and less rhythmically rigid approach than other contemporary blues harmonica players.

Wanderin' Spirit
February, 2007
"Little Walter"

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