Walter Washington (singer)

Walter Wolfman Washington at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Walter "Wolfman" Washington (born December 21, 1943 in New Orleans ) is an American band leader , singer and guitarist of the blues , funk , jazz and rhythm & blues , who mainly works in New Orleans.

Life

Washington grew up in New Orleans and played in his youth with Lee Dorsey , with whom he toured in the United States and appeared at the Apollo Theater , among others . He played in the 1950s with the singer Irma Thomas and of New Orleans key of David Lastie . In the 1960s he had his own All Fools Band and from the 1970s he played in the band of Johnny Adams (with whom he had already worked in the late 1950s), with whom he recorded, but also in his own band , the Roadmasters with whom he toured and recorded. He also came to Europe for the first time in the 1970s on tour, in the early 1970s with New Orleans Rhythm & Blues programs and in the late 1970s with the Roadmasters. He also performs solo and solo recorded the album Rainin In My Heart in 1981 (Help Me Records). In the 1980s he released three albums for Rounder Records ( Wolf Tracks 1986, Out of the Dark 1988, Wolf at the Door 1991 and 2000 On the Prowl ) and then for Point Blank and other labels. Funk is in the House (Bullseye Blues) was released in 1998, Blue Moon Risin (Artelier) in 1999 and Doin the Funky thing (Zoho Roots) in 2008 . He regularly plays in the Trio Chosen Few in the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans (with Russell Batiste junior on drums and organist Joe Krown). He also plays with jazz trumpeter James Andrews .

He incorporates different styles of New Orleans music, especially funk.

The Roadmasters currently (2012) include Wayne Maureau (drums, percussion), Jimmy Carpenter (saxophone) and Jack Cruz , bass guitar.

In 2012 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the New Orleans Big Easy Music Awards.

Web links

• Official website
• Walter Washington at Allmusic (English)