Walton, Mercy Dee

Walton, Mercy Dee 3 or 30 August 1915; Waco, TX – 2 December 1962; Stockton (or Murphys), CA Pianist and vocalist Mercy Dee Walton blended the biting confessional singing style of traditional blues with the more sophisticated phrasing and keyboard approach of the jump and shuffle stylists. Despite not having a sizable number of major hits, he issued several intriguing releases for such labels as Imperial, Specialty, Flair, and most notably Arhoolie and Prestige. His 1961 sessions with guitarist…