Big Walter Horton & Ronnie Earl - Walter's Shuffle

[joosman123]

Big Walter kicks ass.

[inlandonline]

God bless Ronnie Earl for providing such a great backdrop for Walter. Most cats would be trying to show off and just be seen with a great man like Big Walter. Ronnie has class. (Btw, it is not the mic or the amp that makes a harpman great.)

[bluzmama55]

Vintage clip much appreciated by this blues fan. Never enough recognition for this wonderful harp player, Big Walter Horton's tone & techniquest are still studied by harp players today. Thanks for the post.

[harpslide]

You can hear this same lin-up on the excellent CD "Live at the Knickerbocker", It starts with a few songs by Sugar Ray and then Big Walter comes in.

It has a great version of "Easy"

[Fatshead]

Mudcat Ward on bass and Ola Dixon drums

[DrDixonBhD947]

Your right, just sharing personal experience on da "rig" of Big Walter from back in da day in Chicago as he was my mentor. In 74' I found out where Big Walter was staying during his week long stay playing wit Willie Dixon in Atlanta. Johnny Shines had told me if u got a chance to see Big Walter DO !!! Took off work for that whole week, told my boss didn't care if they fired me just wanted to spend every waking moment with him. In a old motel rm listening to this Great Man, no amp blow like ONE

[Harpsucker]

@DrDixonBhD947 Thx, i never had the chance to see him live, my friend Chris (piano player) played with him a couple of times in the late 70th in Chicago and Canada

[DrDixonBhD947]

While living and playing in Chicago 75-77 Big Walter used a 2-10 Vibro Lux wit a Killer Tone !!! I mean Smoking !!! Wit a JT-30 Wit Playboy Vinson on Drums !!!

They were AWSOME !!! Just two Cats Rocking Da House like a Whole Band !!!

Dr. Dixon BhD

[Harpsucker]

@DrDixonBhD947 thx for the info, but i think Walter could play anything and still got his unique tone

[DrDixonBhD947]

@Harpsucker Big Walter showed me how to get that Great Tone on Harp, but i Know Personally that he could play on or through anything He would always have His Great Unique Tone !!! A True Blues MAN, Anything, Harmonica MASTER !!! He gave me his address in Chicago before he left Atlanta, and when i got there in 75', he was da First Person i went to see in da Snow after unpacking. I will be forever Blessed by His Love and Kindness towards me, He was my Mentor.

Dr. Dixon BhD

[raedwulfone]

Great blend of talent there ...Awesome !

[dino52047]

Big Walter fans...you have to hear him on Mean Mistreater with Johnny Winter. Great song..great playing by Walter, and superb interpretation of the song by Johnny. Released on the album "Johnny Winter" 1969. Incredible early album by JW also featuring Willie Dixon. Do yourselves a favor and get this CD any way you can...

[docoraziusmr]

thank you!

[srvvaughan93]

what amp used big walter horton?

[lazur1]

I dont know what amp's on this video, but Walter's local Chicago gig amp from '79 to '81, was a 5 watt, 1968 Fender 'Champ' . But you won't get anything like his sound by using the same amp,as Big Walter didn't really USE his amp the way Little Walter did: Much more of his sound was the same whether through an amp or acousticly. Big Walter could blow so hard when he wanted to that he'd put the mic down & still easily be heard over the band in a crowded bar.

[Harpsucker]

he used Sugar Rays Bassman on this occasion

[harpoonia6969]

@Harpsucker Please don't kick my ass but you don't happen to know the model and the year of that Bassman? Also, thanks for posting all these dope vids (including Lester Butler and all that shit).

[Harpsucker]

@harpoonia6969 nope sorry

[thelinearpractiseday]

i would say that he sounds like Sugar ray but I think it's right to say sUGAR SOUNDS LIKE HIM!!!!!

[chalino19]

the greatest ever! hands down

[GenericGene]

Great post, quality does not matter when it comes to such greats - Gene

[jayscott49]

Ronnie's 'back up' here is a masterpiece, one of the things that sets him apart, so cool to hear him with Big Walter.

[condor1087]

I loved Walter. I am still laughing at all the stories he told me as he could weave a tall tale. He told me he was a Chicago Cop, that he worked for Ma Bell and could tap a phone line with a roach clip, and other gems. You see that suit? One gray one that I remember was Christian Dior. The man had style as well as substance. One time at Elsewhere's on Clark, he made a baby in a crib dance to him playing La Cucharacha.  Jr. Wells was there and he taunted him- lovingly of course.

[crawfishdave57]

Big Walter had those enormous paws that allowed him to hold the mic with one hand and still get a good seal. Monster tone. Great video.

[Bluesboy89]

Anyone notices the amp he goes to when he walks in? It looks like a Fender Bassman, but I could be wrong about this.

[Harpsucker]

i think the Bassman belongs to Sugar Ray Norcia

[SiggyMe]

How many of you cats out there are getting down with this, I got my git and harp and jamming my A** off, I down with this! doc dc

[NossedEvo]

Can't get down any lower. The whole series is an invitation to the blues. Great comment bro

[SiggyMe]

That jamming ain't nothing like that now! Wow, just born too late. Lucky we have these videos that forever immortalize this moment. Thanks doc dc

[hollywoodfats]

Mudcat Ward bass and Ola Dixon on drums.

[Harpsucker]

Little Anthony on piano

[Smokinboyjones]

Well no wonder Willie Dixon called Big Walter the best harmonica player ever... He can play 3 notes and it's just so much better than what you get from most modern "bluesmen".

At the moment I'm listening to "Shuffle&Swing" - Pure Soul...

[bluelightproductions]

Carey Bell was like that too.They just had to play a few notes and you could just feel the difference,like, "Oh, now I'm gonna hear some real blues, DAMN!"It's hard to explain, it's like a wolf callin to another wolf way up north

[boxtie]

just great blues...of all the different genre of music, it's blues that does it for me...wish ah could play hard....bought a few.tried a few times......but never took it through....lazy bastard me....

[bluzlvr]

Why didn't I think of typing in "Big Walter" ages ago? This is fabulous stuff! I'm going to listen to this stuff over and over. (Too bad there isn't more Little Walter to be found.) Thanks for posting it.

[drpickup]

Amazing, Classic footage. God I love youtube. Could not have said it better! Great great performance.

[Drumshanbohustle]

Great to see Big Walter...both Sonny Boys were terrific, and Little Walter and Jr. Wells, too, but I don't think there was ever anyone better than Walter Horton. He could do it all.

[NDMike]

Youv'e gotta love the blues after hearing two masters delivering the goods. I first heard Ronnie Earl on the Room Full of Blues classic "Lets Ride" and have been hooked ever since. Mr. Intensity Ronnie Earl is so humble with his playing here yet you know the talent can explode at any moment. Big Walter Horton makes love to that harp. What a fun time it is listening to this stuff!

[therhythmfour]

Mumbles ma man ... Noice!

B

[motokev]

i wish ronnie would do more gigs. i wonder if he knows how talented he really is....

[jlrboogie]

Here is the REAL BOSS of the Blues Harp !!!! The Blues just lived in this man's soul !!!

[Wordguy5]

Thank God the audio track survived better than the video! Great evidence of the singular blues harp talent of Big Walter performing live. He takes a standard shuffle and truly makes it his own. His tone, vibrato that could crack windows, and elegant phrasing with well-thought out space between licks, are all lessons for contemporary harp players.

[paullongball]

There is nothing more fun, than what Ronnie is doing so tastefully and passionately here! I had the great good fortune to accompany Big Walter, too. I had filed it away in an irretrievable memory, until seeing this brought the master back to life.

Ronnie, I wish you a long, happy, healthy life. And Youtube as well.

Thank you, harpsucker for this precious gem, you get 5 stars, too!

[bobblunn]

Wow!!! Tremendous harp playing - Simply amazing!!!

(Guitarist is pretty darn good too!)

[TheVents]

Amazing, Classic footage.  God I love youtube.