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Aaron Thibeaux Walker or '''T-Bone Walker''' or '''Oak Cliff T-Bone''' ( May 26 , 1910March 15 , 1975 ) was an American Blues Guitarist , Singer , and Songwriter , and one of the most influential musicians of the early 20th Century . He is believed to have been the first bluesman to use an amplified acoustic guitar.

Walker was born in Linden, Texas of African American and Cherokee descent.
When he was a young man his family moved to a region of south Dallas known as Oak Cliff where he met and learned from Blind Lemon Jefferson , another legendary blues musician. Walker's recording debut was "Wichita Falls Blues"/"Trinity River Blues", recorded for Columbia Records in 1929 under the name Oak Cliff T-Bone. His distinctive sound didn't develop until 1942 , when Walker recorded "Mean Old World" for Capitol Records . His electric guitar solos were among the first heard on modern blues recordings and set a standard that is still followed.

Much of Walker's output was recorded from 1946–48 on says "Stormy Monday" first inspired him to take up the guitar. The song is also a favorite live number for the Allman Brothers Band .

Throughout his career he worked with 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 much-hyped appearance at the American Folk Blues Festival in 1962 with Memphis Slim , among others. A few critically acclaimed albums followed, such as '' I Want A Little Girl '', and he won a Grammy in 1971 for '' Good Feelin' '' ( Polydor ).

T-Bone Walker died in 1975 at the age of 64. He is interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California .


INCOMPLETE DISCOGRAPHY

  • ''The Complete Imperial Recordings 1950-1954'', Imperial/EMI, 1991, CDP-7-96737-2

  • ''T-Bone Blues'', Atlantic, 1960, 8020

  • ''Good Feelin''', Polydor, 1970

  • ''Fly Walker Airlines'', Polydor, 1973

  • ''Very Rare'', Reprise Records, 1975



TRIVIA

T-Bone Walker was the childhood hero of Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix imitated some of Walker's ways throughout his life.