Have you ever wondered who somebody like B.B. King might have considered one of his influences? You search deep enough in music history, and there is bound to be somebody who one of your icons considered to be a guitar icon. Well I’m not saying that B.B. King considered T-Bone Walker to be an icon, but after hearing him in an interview, King was surely influenced by Walker. And it turns out, Walker influenced a number of electric blues guitar players that came to prominence in their own music careers. Today I wanted to focus on one of the early kings of the electric blues, T-Bone Walker. He was quite the showman and lived a long life and successful music career as a blues guitarist and singer. I found a few videos that I think you’ll definitely enjoy, just like I did!
Here are two of the greatest on stage together playing “Sweet Sixteen.” B.B. King and T-Bone Walker tear it up in this live rendition at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZy7YGbkBbA.
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B.B. King even sat down for an interview and guitar lesson, explaining some of the things he picked up from T-Bone Walker. Check it out now at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG9CnhzffAE.
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T-Bone Walker helped spread the blues to audiences all around the world, and even into different music styles. T-Bone was invited to perform at “Jazz at the Philharmonic” with notable jazz musicians like Dizzie Gillespie and Louie Bellson. Enjoy the live performance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFqK6PBq-hA.
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Lastly, you can’t write a post about T-Bone Walker and not include a rendition of the classic “Stormy Monday.” Check out this live rendition at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVR8lg1YLuc.
[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/hVR8lg1YLuc” height=”420″ rel=”0″]
I hope you enjoyed hearing from T-Bone Walker. There were a lot of videos in this post, but it’s hard to choose when you have so many good videos. There’s more coming your way at Blues Guitar Unleashed, so stay tuned.
Thanks,
Griff
10 replies to "One Of The Early Kings Of The Electric Blues, T-Bone Walker"
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Yeh, I get mesmerized lookin back at the roots of electric blues on Youtube.
Do you think Mike Bloomfield has been overlooked in his contrib ?
From Chicago at the time Muddy Waters & co were still going strong….played with some greats (ie Dylan at the Newport Festival, Robbie Robertson…prepped Buddy Miles for Jimi the Fox… etc, …”discovered”…the 59 Burst which the Brits (ie Harrison, Clapton, Green, Beck, Page…) made famous. And, aside from being another “setting sun”, had a real good head for the times. Thanks for the Slow Blues Supplement…great course.
Good morning. What a nice way to get started listen to T Bone. Thanks for your nice emails helping all of us get into the grove we live in.
Panting for more!
Walkers influence is clearly visible in so many blues and rock artists that followed. A great selection of video clearly demonstrating the talent and influence of a truly great blues guitarist. Thanks for the insight provided here – a great post!
Inspiring!!
If you love the blues, as I do, performances like that give me goose bumps.
seems like most time i watch the videos you pass along,i see/hear something i’ve never seen/heard before. thanks griff.
Great player in T Bone walker
good stuff