Wade Walton (October 10, 1919 – January 10, 2000) [1] [2] was an American blues musician and local civil rights leader from Mississippi. He was also a renowned barber, who counted many famous musicians amongst his friends, colleagues, and customers.
Walton was born in Lombardy, Mississippi but grew up near Parchman Farm. [2] He attended barber college in Memphis, Tennessee, and subsequently opened a barber shop in Clarksdale, Mississippi. [2]
Walton was known as the "blues barber" [3] because his "Big Six barber shop" [4] was a center of musical activity in Clarksdale. It was located first at 304 Fourth Street, and since 1989 at 317 Issaquena Avenue, [5] which was previously the site of W.C. Handy's house. [6] Walton was proficient on the harmonica, the guitar, and the razor strop, [5] which he played by striking it rhythmically with his razor. [7] Walton was recorded in his barber shop by Paul Oliver in 1960. [8] He later recorded an album, Shake 'Em On Down, released by Bluesville Records in the early 1960s. [5]
In 1960, by chance, Robert Curtis Smith met Paul Oliver and Chris Strachwitz in Walton's barber shop. This led to Smith recording, The Blues of Robert Curtis Smith: Clarksdale Blues (1963). [9] [10]
Walton played in the Kings of Rhythm with Ike Turner, but stayed in Clarksdale working as a barber when Turner took the group national. [8]
Many musicians and other notable people patronized Walton's barber shop to play music with him or in homage, including Howlin' Wolf, [11] Muddy Waters, [12] Sonny Boy Williamson II, and Allen Ginsberg. [5]
Walton was also a local NAACP leader during the civil rights movement in the early 1960s, [12] resulting in the bombing of his barbershop. [13]
He makes appearances in Bill Ferris's 1975 documentary about the Delta blues, Give My Poor Heart Ease [14] and in Robert Mugge's documentary film Deep Blues: A Musical Pilgrimage to the Crossroads. [5]
Walton died in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 10, 2000, at the age of 80. [15] [16]
Walton was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail. [17]
Wade Walton (October 10, 1919 – January 10, 2000) [1] [2] was an American blues musician and local civil rights leader from Mississippi. He was also a renowned barber, who counted many famous musicians amongst his friends, colleagues, and customers.
Walton was born in Lombardy, Mississippi but grew up near Parchman Farm. [2] He attended barber college in Memphis, Tennessee, and subsequently opened a barber shop in Clarksdale, Mississippi. [2]
Walton was known as the "blues barber" [3] because his "Big Six barber shop" [4] was a center of musical activity in Clarksdale. It was located first at 304 Fourth Street, and since 1989 at 317 Issaquena Avenue, [5] which was previously the site of W.C. Handy's house. [6] Walton was proficient on the harmonica, the guitar, and the razor strop, [5] which he played by striking it rhythmically with his razor. [7] Walton was recorded in his barber shop by Paul Oliver in 1960. [8] He later recorded an album, Shake 'Em On Down, released by Bluesville Records in the early 1960s. [5]
In 1960, by chance, Robert Curtis Smith met Paul Oliver and Chris Strachwitz in Walton's barber shop. This led to Smith recording, The Blues of Robert Curtis Smith: Clarksdale Blues (1963). [9] [10]
Walton played in the Kings of Rhythm with Ike Turner, but stayed in Clarksdale working as a barber when Turner took the group national. [8]
Many musicians and other notable people patronized Walton's barber shop to play music with him or in homage, including Howlin' Wolf, [11] Muddy Waters, [12] Sonny Boy Williamson II, and Allen Ginsberg. [5]
Walton was also a local NAACP leader during the civil rights movement in the early 1960s, [12] resulting in the bombing of his barbershop. [13]
He makes appearances in Bill Ferris's 1975 documentary about the Delta blues, Give My Poor Heart Ease [14] and in Robert Mugge's documentary film Deep Blues: A Musical Pilgrimage to the Crossroads. [5]
Walton died in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 10, 2000, at the age of 80. [15] [16]
Walton was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail. [17]