Walter "Wolfman" Washington

NewMusicforOldFolks says …

Walther "Wolfman" Washington doesn't stray from New Orleans very often, hitting the occasional summer festival. So you may need to travel to see him live. The Wednesday night shows at DBA are a Big Easy staple. The recordings are good, especially Doin' the Funky Thing, but seeing the Wolfman live is where it's at.

Artist's info

Website: walterwolfmanwashington.com

See him live: Tour dates

Record company: Frenchmen Street Records

Genre: Blues, Funk, R&B, Jazz

If you like this, look into: The Holmes Brothers, Keb' Mo', Tommy Castro

Bio (From the artist's website)

Walter “Wolfman” Washington has been a mainstay on the New Orleans music scene. He cut his teeth backing up some of the best singers and performers in New Orleans history before putting together his long time band The Roadmasters who have been burning down and burning up local and national stages since their first gigs in the 1980s. His guitar style combines both rhythm and blues, blues, New Orleans funk, and modern jazz into a way of playing that is uniquely his. His singing is emotional and heartfelt. His guitar work is intricate, intimate, and full. There is a little Bobby Blue Bland, a little Kenny Burrell, a little George Benson, a little church, and a lot of New Orleans charm and experience in a Walter Wolfman Washington performance. They are known for doing their own soulful originals and then tackling some great unsung covers such as Johnny Guitar Watson’s “You Can Stay But That Noise Got To Go,” Otis Redding’s “Nobody’s Fault But Mine,” and Bill Withers’ “Use Me.” And in this day and age of musicians imitating the past or trying to recreate it, The Wolfman stands out as a musician steeped in the history but completely contemporary. Few musical acts, if any, do what he does. He is real, authentic, and unique. (more)

Spotify sampler

Recordings

Most Recent

HOWLIN' LIVE AT THE DBA NEW ORLEANS (2014): Over the past few years, d.b.a. has been selling tickets to heaven on Wednesday nights, when two long-running residencies take place: the early show by the Tin Men followed by the magnificent Walter “Wolfman” Washington. Washington, the iconic guitarist and vocalist whose storied career dates back to the glory days of New Orleans R&B, when he backed such legends as Johnny Adams, Lee Dorsey and Ernie K-Doe, leads one of the city’s most irresistible dance bands, the Roadmasters. His latest release really captures the heady flavor of those wonderful nights when Wednesday rolls into Thursday and everyone goes home sweaty and smiling. — Offbeat.com

OTHERS

• Rainin' In My Life (1981)

• Wolf Tracks (1986)

• Out of the Dark (1988)

• Wolf at the Door (1991)

• Sada (1991)

• Funk Is in the House (1998)

• Blue Moon Risin' (1999)

• On the Prowl (2000)

• Doin' the Funky Thing (2008)

#Bluesy #Funky #Profile