Album Information:

About T Bone Walker:

T-Bone Walker was an influential and pioneering blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter who helped shape the sound of modern blues and rock music. He was born as Aaron Thibeaux Walker on May 28, 1910, in Linden, Texas, and grew up in Dallas. His mother, who was a singer and pianist, encouraged his musical talents from an early age.

Walker learned to play guitar from Blind Lemon Jefferson, a popular blues musician in the Dallas area, and by the age of 15, he was performing regularly on street corners. In the 1930s, he began playing professionally, first with the Dallas-based group the Wanderers and later with blues greats such as Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith.

In 1940, Walker signed with Capitol Records and recorded his breakout hit, 'T-Bone Blues.' The song featured Walker's signature guitar style, which blended elements of jazz and blues into a fluid, melodic sound that was both sophisticated and soulful. Over the next decade, Walker recorded numerous other classics, including 'Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad),' 'Mean Old World,' and 'T-Bone Shuffle,' which became his theme song.

Walker's influence on the blues and rock worlds was enormous. He was one of the first guitarists to use distortion and other effects to create a bigger, more aggressive sound. His style also inspired countless others, including B.B. King, Chuck Berry, and Jimi Hendrix.

Despite his success, Walker faced racism and discrimination throughout his career. He was often forced to play in segregated clubs and was sometimes denied lodging while on tour. Nevertheless, he continued to perform and record until his death in March 1975.

In recognition of his contributions to American music, Walker was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and the Texas Blues Hall of Fame in 1983. Today, he is remembered as a true innovator in the blues and a pioneer of modern guitar playing.

About the album The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950-1954:

The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950-1954 is a compilation album by T Bone Walker, a blues guitarist and singer known for his smooth vocals and virtuosic guitar playing. The album consists of 101 tracks, all recorded between 1950 and 1954, and is considered to be a definitive collection of Walker's output during this period.

The album starts off with his iconic hit 'Call It Stormy Monday,' a slow blues number that showcases Walker's soulful vocals and masterful guitar playing. This is followed by a series of upbeat swing and jump blues tracks, such as 'Flip Flop and Fly' and 'Strollin' with Bones,' which feature swinging horn arrangements and catchy guitar riffs.

As the album progresses, the tracks become more varied in style and tempo. There are slow blues ballads like 'T-Bone Shuffle' and 'Cold Cold Feeling,' as well as uptempo tracks like 'Papa Ain't Salty' and 'The Hustle Is On.' Walker's guitar playing is consistently impressive throughout, whether he's delivering sweet, Melodic solos or blazing, fast-paced runs.

In addition to his guitar skills, Walker was also an excellent songwriter and his lyrics often deal with themes of love, heartbreak, and the struggles of everyday life. Tracks like 'You Don't Understand' and 'I'm Still in Love with You' are particularly poignant examples of his skill as a lyricist.

Overall, The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950-1954 is an exceptional collection of music from one of the great blues musicians of the mid-20th century. Walker's talent as both a singer and a guitarist is on full display throughout the album, making it a must-listen for fans of traditional blues and early rock and roll.

Members:

T Bone Walker was a solo artist who did not have a band or a consistent backing group. However, he often collaborated with other notable musicians throughout his career. Here are some brief biographies of some of the key members he worked with:

1. Duke Ellington - Born in 1899, Duke Ellington was an American composer and pianist who was widely considered one of the most important jazz musicians of the 20th century. He is credited with popularizing the concept of the big band, and his influential sound can be heard in many genres of music today. T Bone Walker performed with Duke Ellington and his orchestra on occasion.

2. Charlie Christian - Charlie Christian (1916-1942) was a jazz guitarist who was one of the first musicians to use the electric guitar as a solo instrument. He is widely credited with helping to popularize the use of amplification in music, and his innovative playing style had a lasting impact on the development of jazz and blues guitar. T Bone Walker toured with Charlie Christian in the early 1940s.

3. Freddie King - Freddie King (1934-1976) was an American blues guitarist and singer who was known for his powerful, emotive playing style. He is often credited with popularizing the use of the electric guitar in blues music, and his influence can be heard in the playing of many later blues and rock guitarists. T Bone Walker worked with Freddie King on occasion and they were known to have collaborated on several tracks.

4. Pee Wee Crayton - Pee Wee Crayton (1914-1985) was an American blues guitarist and singer who was known for his smooth, jazzy playing style. He was one of the first blues musicians to have a hit record on the R&B charts, and his influence can be heard in the playing of many later blues and jazz guitarists. T Bone Walker and Pee Wee Crayton were known to have jammed together on occasion, and they were both influential in the development of modern blues and jazz guitar.

Track List for The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950-1954:

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Discography for T Bone Walker:

Here is the complete discography of T-Bone Walker in chronological order:

Albums:
1. Singing the Blues (1947)
2. T-Bone Blues (1959)
3. Singing the Blues / T-Bone Blues (1960)
4. Stormy Monday Blues (1963)
5. Bosses of the Blues, Vol. 1 (1969)
6. The Great Blues Vocals & Guitar of T-Bone Walker (1970)
7. T-Bone Blues Again (1971)
8. Good Feelin' (1971)
9. Very Rare (1971)
10. Funky Town (1972)
11. I Get So Weary (1974)
12. Dirty Mistreater (1974)
13. The Truth (1974)
14. Fly Walker Airlines (1975)
15. Well Done (1977)
16. Everyday I Have the Blues (1977)
17. Classics of Modern Blues (1977)
18. Big Joe Turner / T-Bone Walker: Super Black Blues, Vol. 1 (1980)
19. T-Bone Blues (1986)
20. Complete Capitol/Black & White Recordings (1995)
21. The Complete Imperial Recordings 1950-1954 (1997)
22. Texas Guitar, Vol. 1 (2000)
23. Texas Guitar, Vol. 2 (2000)
24. The Complete Recordings of T-Bone Walker 1940-1954 (2001)
25. T-Bone Jumps Again (2002)
26. The Hustle is On (2003)
27. Blues Masters: The Very Best of T-Bone Walker (2003)
28. Jazz & Blues Collection (2004)
29. Classic American Voices (2004)
30. The Ultimate Collection 1929-57 (2006)

Singles:
1. 'Wichita Falls Blues' / 'Trinity River Blues' (1929)
2. 'Hypin' Women Blues' / 'Long Skirt Baby Blues' (1930)
3. 'Hard Pain Blues' / 'Mean Old World Blues' (1939)
4. 'I Got a Break, Baby' / 'You Don't Understand' (1940)
5. 'I’m Gonna Find My Baby' / 'T-Bone Shuffle' (1942)
6. 'Call It Stormy Monday But Tuesday Is Just as Bad' / 'Mean Old World Blues' (1947)

Other Releases:
1. The Complete Capitol Recordings of T-Bone Walker (1995)
2. The Complete Imperial Recordings 1950-1954, Vol. 1 (1991)
3. The Complete Imperial Recordings 1950-1954, Vol. 2 (1991)