"Big" Walter Horton – Little Boy Blue / Live 1980

Album: Big Walter Horton – Live At The Knickerbocker / Featuring Ronnie Earl & Sugar Ray Released: 1980 (LP) & 1989 (CD) Recorded live at The Knickerbocker Club, Westerly, R.I. Harmonica – Walter Horton Vocals – Walter Horton Guitar – Ronnie Earl Horvath Piano – Little Anthony Bass – Michael "Mudcat" Ward Drums – Ola Dixon It's 1980 and Big Walter undertakes a short tour of the North East. At this stage of his career, he's the King of the Blues Harmonica - Little Walter, the only serious contender for the title had died twelve years earlier. Here he's drawing on at least four decades in the business, having played with the likes of Little Buddy Doyle, Muddy Waters, Eddie Taylor and Johnny Shines. Here he's backed by Sugar Ray Norcia's band and Sugar Ray himself contributes to three tracks. These are quality musicians, on the brink of wider fame. On bass there's 'Mudcat' Ward; on piano, Little Anthony and on drums the phenomenal Ola Dixon. The guitarist is a new kid, Ronnie Horvath, who's starting to get folks talking. Suffice to say he's now known as Ronnie Earl. This is a classic live set - possibly Big Walter's last recording.