Walter, Little

Many people consider Little Walter the world's greatest blues harmonica player. In the words of author Robert Palmer, “almost everyone who picks up a harmonica … will at some stage in his development emulate either Little Walter or a Little Walter imitator.”

LittleWalter was born Marion Walter Jacobs on May 1, 1930, near Marksville, Louisiana. He began playing the harmonica at age 8, and ran away from home to become a musician at age 12. By 1944...