In MY humble opinion, NOBODY could equal Big Walter when he was on his game, not Little Walter, not Sonny Boy 2, not Cotton, Wells, or Butterfield. When Walter Horton was ON... it made the hairs stand up on your arms. At those moments, he was untouchable. His guitar counterpart in that way was the great Otis Rush.
This performance must have been near the time Big Walter passed away. He looks pretty ill. Definitely one of the greatest blues harp players of all time.
Pretty rare for two harps playing simultaneous, and sounding bitchin' ! Two legends, though. Met Walter once, just a year before his sad end. Have met Charlie any number of times. Super friendly, even with a fellow harpslinger like me !
+B Clark No...Big Walter Horton taught Charlie Musselwhite.....Rod Piazza....and William Clarke .......how to play the harmonica.......amongst others.....Try listening to some of his greatest hits compilations....You might learn something about the blues........At least amongst musicians in the blues field, they respect one another and perform and stay together........Big Walter had that name for a reason.....DO NOT disrespect him......If Taj Mahal....not his real name....heard you talk of his elders like you do......My oh my.......No class.
+John Santa Cruz I agree John... B Clark is uninformed... So, inform him. Big Walter is one of the four architects of electric Chicago Blues harp. The other three were Little Walter, Jr Wells, and James Cotton. However, I would first listen to Sonny Boy Williamson #2 (Rice Miller) who blew acoustic (through a PA not an amp) because he's highly emulated and influenced the four. Later innovators, such as Carey Bell, came, but stick with the big 4 for now. Big Walter Horton was a musical genius. He helped transform the Harmonica sonically and expanded the language by which it was known. You can quip about someone being drunk all you want, but if that's all you picked up from that clip, then I suggest you listen again. Listen to Jimmy Rogers' "Walking By Myself" As well, listen to his work with Eddie Taylor on guitar. It just may give you some perspective as to how instrumental Walter was to the development of the harp.
+Vahan Nahabedian don't forget Paul Butterfield. He was blowing Chicago blues minds in the early 60s. A blues harmonica innovator and pioneer to say the least.
+Barry Miller Hi Barry, To be honest, I'm not really familiar with Butterfield's work. I know I should be, and I know there are a lot of other very important players to love and listen to other than Carey Bell. Louis Myers (not just one of the most important & significant guitarists), Snooky Pryor, Billy Boy Arnold, Good Rockin' Charles, Lazy Lester... the list goes on and on of BRILLIANT players who all added greatness to the mix... I could go on forever... Willie "Big Eyes" Smith blew circles around most... & few know he was anything more than Muddy's drummer. Butterfield is always mentioned & I know that's a good thing, but there are multitudes of UNSUNG Chicago harmonica heroes to discover from that era. Have a great day, & check out my crazy wreck of a band... Blooza. If you're a player, I'd like to hear you as well.
I read in Honeyboy Edwards's book that Walter was a great friend, but "half retarded". Apparently he was a savant. He had such great tone and technical ability. Too bad he didn't reap the rewards of his talent while alive. Sounds like a common thread when dealing with white labels... Jeff
bluezboy you call your self ? walter even play high notes to tell him to shut up but he kept disturbing in some points it look like a bad jam because of Charlie Musselwhite trying to take over and not giving space!
I was lucky to get to know Walter and I saw him play a lot. The first time I went to his home, he said "let's take a walk over to my friend's". His friend was Jimmy Rogers. Wow, that was a trip for a 20 year old blues fan. Walter was not half retarded, God, that is an insult. He was a true genius on harp, that is for sure, and he had a hell of a personality. He liked Canadian Club, and taught me to enjoy it too. Maybe we had a little too much CC during the night sometimes and that will make you wobble, but that doesn't make you retarded. I saw some harp playing from him that no one else can duplicate.
Thank you. Sugar Ray Norcia also knew-and helped, and respected Walter Horton-and never ever said anything about Horton that wasn't full of admiration.
WTF this Charlie Musselwhite interrupt ?? Big Walter sit down getting his harp case & start soloing and this Charlie finishing the song interrupt and dont let him soloing after the all song he interrupt over and over... look at walter face when he does it after he sit - he is not happy...
I didn't see that.It looked to me as at the end of the song Walter called Charlies name,and signaled to him to finish the song.Anyway,Big Walter is in my opinion the best blues harp player ever.Charlie is great also,but nobody matches Big Walter.It was good to see Walter get that attention from the crowd.Great video ! Thanks !
Hey eranswisa man, put y'coat out to dry. These cats are old, old friends...they're trading solos - jus like it's always been. Back in the day, there was a thing called a 'cutting session' where two or three cats 'out played' one another. Of course, most of the time it was just entertainment; my point is that these cats know how to work with one another, and more importantly, how to work a crowd....so just cool it, stick your head in the refrigerator or sumthin. Love.
I agree with Marcus . . . . they were trading solos . . . . In fact the way I see it Big Walter didn't really want to share the stage with Charlie, and just randomly took another bar which make charlie look like he was interrumpting.
+Marcus Clements Marcus is 100% right. These guys had huge love for each other. With that kind of bond, you can do no wrong. Walter did have a style of showing the other guy what he could do. I saw some amazing things come out of that harp when another harp player was in the room or on the stage. Trust me, he could show anyone in the world how it was done, and he did that often.
@@thorkamelot Charlie and Walter's friendship was legendary. You are very very very ignorant about American blues. Walter Horton would have had utter contempt for you and the indignant clown eran as most of us blues fans do. Stay in your toilet, gnome.
I had the privilege to see Big Walter play with Muddy around '67 or so. Whew!!
I had the great good fortune to see Big Walter play with Muddy in the late 60s, Whew!!!
In MY humble opinion, NOBODY could equal Big Walter when he was on his game, not Little Walter, not Sonny Boy 2, not Cotton, Wells, or Butterfield. When Walter Horton was ON... it made the hairs stand up on your arms. At those moments, he was untouchable. His guitar counterpart in that way was the great Otis Rush.
Chris Jay Becker you are correct sir
Chris Jay Becker Kim Wilson could give them both a run for their money.
Aaaaaaaaaaamen To Da Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamen Chris!!!
Not to take anything away from Big Walter, but John Lee Hooker, with his long jams like Boogie Chillun, is my go-to blues man.
they play music ! It is not a championship.
This performance must have been near the time Big Walter passed away. He looks pretty ill. Definitely one of the greatest blues harp players of all time.
massive musselwhite fan here, gotta love his sound; big walter horton's voice is great as well
Cgilbert C musselwhite.is a hell of a artist.bules
Great show!
Legend!!!
That's the Dynatones there! Walter Shufflesworth (drums), Daddy Ray (sax), Rick Welter (gtr) and it looks like Jay on bass. Bay Area blues heroes!
Pretty rare for two harps playing simultaneous, and sounding bitchin' ! Two legends, though. Met Walter once, just a year before his sad end. Have met Charlie any number of times. Super friendly, even with a fellow harpslinger like me !
this is so cool...
Excellent harps player...
This is my EVERLY BIG walter ...😍
Verano de blues cerveza.
Harika
genial
Go 'head Mumbles... do your thing!!!
ooooh was hethe harp player nicknamed mumbles?? i just thought he was drunk off his fucking arse..
+B Clark No...Big Walter Horton taught Charlie Musselwhite.....Rod Piazza....and William Clarke .......how to play the harmonica.......amongst others.....Try listening to some of his greatest hits compilations....You might learn something about the blues........At least amongst musicians in the blues field, they respect one another and perform and stay together........Big Walter had that name for a reason.....DO NOT disrespect him......If Taj Mahal....not his real name....heard you talk of his elders like you do......My oh my.......No class.
+John Santa Cruz
I agree John... B Clark is uninformed... So, inform him. Big Walter is one of the four architects of electric Chicago Blues harp. The other three were Little Walter, Jr Wells, and James Cotton. However, I would first listen to Sonny Boy Williamson #2 (Rice Miller) who blew acoustic (through a PA not an amp) because he's highly emulated and influenced the four. Later innovators, such as Carey Bell, came, but stick with the big 4 for now. Big Walter Horton was a musical genius. He helped transform the Harmonica sonically and expanded the language by which it was known. You can quip about someone being drunk all you want, but if that's all you picked up from that clip, then I suggest you listen again. Listen to Jimmy Rogers' "Walking By Myself" As well, listen to his work with Eddie Taylor on guitar. It just may give you some perspective as to how instrumental Walter was to the development of the harp.
+Vahan Nahabedian don't forget Paul Butterfield. He was blowing Chicago blues minds in the early 60s. A blues harmonica innovator and pioneer to say the least.
+Barry Miller Hi Barry, To be honest, I'm not really familiar with Butterfield's work. I know I should be, and I know there are a lot of other very important players to love and listen to other than Carey Bell. Louis Myers (not just one of the most important & significant guitarists), Snooky Pryor, Billy Boy Arnold, Good Rockin' Charles, Lazy Lester... the list goes on and on of BRILLIANT players who all added greatness to the mix... I could go on forever... Willie "Big Eyes" Smith blew circles around most... & few know he was anything more than Muddy's drummer. Butterfield is always mentioned & I know that's a good thing, but there are multitudes of UNSUNG Chicago harmonica heroes to discover from that era. Have a great day, & check out my crazy wreck of a band... Blooza. If you're a player, I'd like to hear you as well.
I read somewhere that Big Walter hated being called Shakey. Memphis Charlie can get away with it, though.
I read in Honeyboy Edwards's book that Walter was a great friend, but "half retarded". Apparently he was a savant. He had such great tone and technical ability. Too bad he didn't reap the rewards of his talent while alive. Sounds like a common thread when dealing with white labels...
Jeff
bluezboy you call your self ?
walter even play high notes to tell him to shut up but he kept disturbing in some points it look like a bad jam because of Charlie Musselwhite trying to take over and not giving space!
eranswisa Uh, yes, I call myself bluezboy. Is that an issue?
I was lucky to get to know Walter and I saw him play a lot. The first time I went to his home, he said "let's take a walk over to my friend's". His friend was Jimmy Rogers. Wow, that was a trip for a 20 year old blues fan. Walter was not half retarded, God, that is an insult. He was a true genius on harp, that is for sure, and he had a hell of a personality. He liked Canadian Club, and taught me to enjoy it too. Maybe we had a little too much CC during the night sometimes and that will make you wobble, but that doesn't make you retarded. I saw some harp playing from him that no one else can duplicate.
He's a complete moron who doesn't understand anything in the video.
Thank you. Sugar Ray Norcia also knew-and helped, and respected Walter Horton-and never ever said anything about Horton that wasn't full of admiration.
WTF this Charlie Musselwhite interrupt ??
Big Walter sit down getting his harp case & start soloing and this Charlie finishing the song interrupt and dont let him soloing after the all song he interrupt over and over...
look at walter face when he does it after he sit - he is not happy...
I didn't see that.It looked to me as at the end of the song Walter called Charlies name,and signaled to him to finish the song.Anyway,Big Walter is in my opinion the best blues harp player ever.Charlie is great also,but nobody matches Big Walter.It was good to see Walter get that attention from the crowd.Great video ! Thanks !
Hey eranswisa man, put y'coat out to dry. These cats are old, old friends...they're trading solos - jus like it's always been. Back in the day, there was a thing called a 'cutting session' where two or three cats 'out played' one another. Of course, most of the time it was just entertainment; my point is that these cats know how to work with one another, and more importantly, how to work a crowd....so just cool it, stick your head in the refrigerator or sumthin. Love.
I agree with Marcus . . . . they were trading solos . . . . In fact the way I see it Big Walter didn't really want to share the stage with Charlie, and just randomly took another bar which make charlie look like he was interrumpting.
eranswisa From what I saw, it doesn't seem like we're watching the same video.
+Marcus Clements Marcus is 100% right. These guys had huge love for each other. With that kind of bond, you can do no wrong. Walter did have a style of showing the other guy what he could do. I saw some amazing things come out of that harp when another harp player was in the room or on the stage. Trust me, he could show anyone in the world how it was done, and he did that often.
Charlie Musselwhite why you desterb ???
let the guy play
+eranswisa da fuck u tawkin bout Willis?
+Barry Miller Are you blind? watch the video carefully and maybe you'll notice that Musselwhite try to stop to Big Walter while he's playin'
eranswisa ? CHARLIE IS COOL, humble and an awesome harp player.
Exactly it's not fair!
@@thorkamelot Charlie and Walter's friendship was legendary. You are very very very ignorant about American blues. Walter Horton would have had utter contempt for you and the indignant clown eran as most of us blues fans do. Stay in your toilet, gnome.