Little Walter's unique amplified technique, with deliberate distortion, created a new understanding of what was possible with the blues harmonica. He had profound influence on blues greats such as Junior Wells, James Cotton and Charlie Musselwhite. His 1952 instrumental "Juke" was inducted into the Grammy Awards Hall of Fame.
Little Walter (Marion Walter Jacobs) was born in Marksville, Lousisiana in 1930. He quit school at age 12 and drifted around New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis and other cites, working odd jobs, busking and playing with blues artists such as Sonny Boy Williamson and Big Bill Broonzy.
In 1947 Little Walter moved to Chicago, where he found work as a sideman with a number of bands, while further developing his technique of playing the harp with a microphone cupped in his hand, deliberately exploiting the distortions that this made possible.
Little Walter joined up with Muddy Waters in 1948, and played on most of Muddy's classic recordings in the 1950's. In 1952, Little Walter recorded a verson of "Juke" on the Checker label under his own name, a tune that Muddy Waters had been using to close sets. "Juke" reached number one on the R&B charts and launched Little Walter's career as an indpendent artist, although Little Walter continued to play with Muddy.
During the 1950s Little Walter released a number of hits including "Off The Wall", "Roller Coaster", "Sad Hours" and the classic "My Babe". He also played harmonica in performances and recordings with many artists, including Jimmy Rogers, Bo Diddley, Otis Rush and Robert Highthawk.
With a growing problem with alcohol, his career declined after 1960. Little Walter died in 1968, aged only 37.
Wild about you baby
LinksGlenn Weiser note on Little Walter
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