T-Bone Walker Caricature

T-Bone Walker Caricature, age 55 shown performing at the Apollo Theater in January 1966, New York City.

Aaron Thibeaux “T-Bone” Walker was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who was a pioneer and innovator of the jump blues and electric blues sound.
His moniker “T-Bone” is a corruption of his middle name. Born in Linden, Texas, of African-American and Cherokee descent, his stepfather, Marco Washington, taught him to play the guitar, ukulele, banjo, violin, mandolin, and piano.

Walker left school at the age of 10, and by 15 he was a professional performer on the blues circuit around Dallas.

In 1942, Charlie Glenn, the owner of the Rhumboogie Café, brought T-Bone Walker to Chicago for long-time stints in his club. In 1944 and 1945, Walker recorded for the “Rhumboogie” label, which was tied to the club, backed up by Marl Young’s orchestra.

Much of his output was recorded from 1946 to 1948 for Black & White Records, including his most famous song, “Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)” (1947). Other notable songs he recorded during this period were “Bobby Sox Blues” (a number 3 R&B hit in 1947) and “West Side Baby” (number 8 on the R&B singles chart in 1948).

Throughout his career Walker worked with top-notch musicians, including the trumpeter Teddy Buckner, the pianist Lloyd Glenn, the bassist Billy Hadnott, the tenor saxophonist Jack McVea, pianist Memphis Slim and bass player Willie Dixon.

Walker’s career began to wind down after he suffered a stroke in 1974. He died of bronchial pneumonia following another stroke in March 1975, at the age of 64.

B.B. King cited hearing Walker’s recording of “Stormy Monday” as his inspiration for getting an electric guitar. Walker was admired by Jimi Hendrix, who imitated Walker’s trick of playing the guitar with his teeth. Steve Miller stated that in 1952, Walker taught him how to play his guitar behind his back and also with his teeth.

Walker was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.