Induction of Little Walter

Little Walter (May 1, 1930 February 15, 1968) Although Little Walter might not have been the first person to amplify the harmonica, his pioneering use of the microphone helped establish the modern blues harmonica. With a mike clasped to his harp, Little Walter created echoing, moaning, hornlike sounds that redefined the capabilities of the instrument. Walter Jacobs had fourteen top ten hits on the R&B charts in the 1950s including two number #1 songs Juke and My Babe. Little Walter toured and recorded extensively with blues great Muddy Waters in the 1950s. He also recorded with Jimmy Rogers, Memphis Minnie, Otis Rush and Bo Diddley. Little Walters influence was pervasive, especially in England where the next generation of harp players such as Mick Jagger listened to his records over and over.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rock
• and
• Roll
• Hall
• of
• Fame
• Induction
• Little
• Walter
• Presentor
• Ben
• Harper

[hammerogod]

What in the hell was that?

I thought it was some kind of joke at first.

It was ok for Ben to deliver the induction address but when he sat down and tried to song some Blues I just had to laugh.

What a disservice to the Legendary Little Walter.

The R&R Hall of Fame is not what it once was.

Marion Walter Jacobs died in 1968 ... if he was still alive today Ben Harper would have been stabbed in the eye.

[Hornilope]

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME IS BULLSHIT

[hnh4]

this do not justify James Cotton.

[anacocogirl]

In my opinion no one has come close to little walter with this song however they

did not murder the song with their rendition. Im from Louisiana and have heard a lot of blues players and some have tried to do the song and made comlpete fools of themselves.

[elishaluvs]

Nobody understands the blues .. so im here to tell u its the best music .. I grew up listening to the blues .. you can relate to the music .. don't criticize good music

[ONENIGGER2ANOTHER]

@LesbianVampireLover I see and tell us were you born deaf or lose your hearing later?

[trampley]

That was pretty bad. The blues is just folk music, it drives me crazy when people take it so damn seriously. I normally like Ben Harper, but that presentation (and the musical number...what the hell was up with that guitar tone in a Little Walter song?

) was really self indulgent. Cotton was (not surprisingly) pretty good.

[Jmanblues]

Little Walter - great. This induction - awful. What is Harper doing over-singing My Babe with all those stupid soul flourishes - and that guitar, wrong place for that screaming lead. And that poem - my god, did he find that on a box of tea or something? Ugh. Little Walter deserved better than this or Cadillac Records.

[johnschroder78]

What a load of crap. Harper's comments were obviously heartfelt. LOL To pass through life you have to pass through the blues and Little Walter? Well, you guys missed the bus.  If Cotton's looks could kill, you guys would be dead, oh, and fired. Don't let the door hit ya in the a** on your way out! Next?

[vitalsfading]

you'll notice james cotton gives him the eye must not like his singing

[nickbarcenas]

wow that was an excellent performance by ben harper and james cotton ..

[LesbianVampireLover]

Well...I thought it was an excellent performance by Harper and James Cotton. Harper never ceases to amaze me. He was one of the best performers in the great "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" film and he acquitted himself very well here. I saw James Cotton many years ago...didn't know he was still around, when he had the James Cotton Blues Band. They'd be the opening act for the great artists of the late sixties era around Atlanta.