Musician. Bluesman. Born Aaron Thibeaux Walker in Linden, Cass County, Texas. T-Bone's mother bought him his first instrument, a banjo, when he was twelve; and he bought his first guitar at 16. While in school, he joined a sixteen piece band, playing banjo instead of guitar so he could be heard. Walker's big break came after winning an amateur show; first prize was a week with Cab Calloway's band. Calloway let Walker take a solo in Houston. His gig with Calloway lead to a recording date with Columbia where he recorded Witchita Falls and Trinity River Blues under the name Oak Cliff T-Bone. By 1934, he was fronting a quartet and in 1940 he went to LA where the crowds went wild over him. He was such a hit that he was brought back repeatedly and led to his recordings of early versions of his best known hits in 1945 on the Rhumboogie label. By the mid 50s, he had moved to Atlantic Records. He got another break in 1960, singing with Count Basie. In the 60s he toured through much of western Europe to enthusiastic crowds. He then recorded several times for the French label Black and Blue and became a regular at Paris' Les Trois Mailletz. In 1972 he was back in Los Angeles where he found that his last record had won a Grammy. He suffered a stroke on New Year's Eve 1974 and was confined to a nursing home. He died in March 1975. In 1980 and 1987, he was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, respectively.
Musician. Bluesman. Born Aaron Thibeaux Walker in Linden, Cass County, Texas. T-Bone's mother bought him his first instrument, a banjo, when he was twelve; and he bought his first guitar at 16. While in school, he joined a sixteen piece band, playing banjo instead of guitar so he could be heard. Walker's big break came after winning an amateur show; first prize was a week with Cab Calloway's band. Calloway let Walker take a solo in Houston. His gig with Calloway lead to a recording date with Columbia where he recorded Witchita Falls and Trinity River Blues under the name Oak Cliff T-Bone. By 1934, he was fronting a quartet and in 1940 he went to LA where the crowds went wild over him. He was such a hit that he was brought back repeatedly and led to his recordings of early versions of his best known hits in 1945 on the Rhumboogie label. By the mid 50s, he had moved to Atlantic Records. He got another break in 1960, singing with Count Basie. In the 60s he toured through much of western Europe to enthusiastic crowds. He then recorded several times for the French label Black and Blue and became a regular at Paris' Les Trois Mailletz. In 1972 he was back in Los Angeles where he found that his last record had won a Grammy. He suffered a stroke on New Year's Eve 1974 and was confined to a nursing home. He died in March 1975. In 1980 and 1987, he was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, respectively.
Bio by: Iola
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