Marion Walter Jacobs, better known as Little Walter, pioneered the use of amplification with the harmonica, making him the perfect counterpart of Muddy Waters, who was busy adapting the Delta blues to a tough electric sound. Walter started with Muddy when he moved north, and by 1952 he was fronting his own band, pushing the harmonica past the blues into the realm of jazz, incorporating the chromatic harmonica, and experimenting with echo and distortion when he played. Walter was also an excellent singer and songwriter, as you can hear on tracks like "Confessin’ The Blues". "Juke" was his first solo effort, and became the first hit record for Checker Records, the singles label for Chess Records.
Song of the Day: Little Walter, “Juke”
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Love when he bends the notes…
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He can get more sound out of a harmonica than just about anyone.
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Yes he can… I played harmonica but never could bend notes well…I played more Bob Dylan type
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Bending notes is one of those things I think you discover by accident. At least, that’s how I discovered it.
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Yea I need to play with it some more. I have accidentally found them but never could control it….that is a better way of putting it.
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There’s a book by Tony “Little Sun” Glover that’s pretty complete and goes into all the mechanics. And there are lots of videos on YouTube as well.
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You know I need to check the youtube videos out. I haven’t on that.
When I want to learn a song I go to youtube instead of by ear like I have all of my life…it makes it easier.
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I wish I could start over with YouTube around. It’s an incredible resource
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Yes…it would cut down on time…not to mention playing records to death on slow speed to learn something.
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Great start to my day!
There’s an extensive Walter tribute on The Immortal Jukebox.
Regards Thom
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Excellent tribute, Thom!
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