Walter "Wolfman" Washington
American singer and guitarist (1943–2022)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Walter "Wolfman" Washington (December 20, 1943 – December 22, 2022) was an American singer and guitarist, based in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. While his roots were in blues music, he blended in the essence of funk and R&B to create his own unique sound.
December 20, 1943
Walter "Wolfman" Washington | |
|---|---|
 Washington at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Walter Washington December 20, 1943 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | December 22, 2022 (aged 79) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupations | Musician, singer |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1962–2022 |
| Labels | Hep' Me, Maison de Soul, Rounder, Pointblank, Bullseye Blues, Zoho Roots |
| Website | WalterWolfmanWashington.com |
Biography
Washington was born in New Orleans, and whilst still in his teens, he was invited to play in Lee Dorsey's band.[1]
In the mid-1960s, Washington formed the All Fools Band, and played at clubs in New Orleans.[2]
In the 1970s, he joined Johnny Adams' band. He played with Adams for 20 years, performing both live and on his records.[1] During this time he continued to work as a solo artist, and in the late 1970s formed his own band, the Roadmasters, and toured Europe with them.[2]
Washington released his first solo album, Rainin' In My Life, in 1981 on the small local label Hep' Me.[3] He landed a contract with Rounder Records in 1985, and he released three albums with that label. After the Rounder days, he also released an album, Sada, on Pointblank Records.[3][4]
Washington started to play regularly with two New Orleans musicians, the organist Joe Krown and the drummer Russell Batiste, Jr., working as a trio at the Maple Leaf Bar.
Washington appears in performance footage in the 2005 documentary film Make It Funky!, which presents a history of New Orleans music and its influence on rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk and jazz.[5] In the film, he performs "Barefootin'" with the house band.[6]
In 2008, he released Doin' the Funky Thing, his first album in many years.[4] Live at the Maple Leaf, a live recording by Krown, Washington, and Batiste was also released in the same year.
Washington died of cancer in New Orleans, on December 22, 2022, two days after his 79th birthday.[7]
Awards and honors
OffBeat's Best of The Beat Awards
| Year | Category | Work nominated | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Best Blues Band or Performer | Won | [8] | |
| Best Urban Contemporary R&B Band or Performer | Won | [8] | ||
| 1997 | Best R&B/Soul Band or Performer | Won | [8] | |
| 1998 | Best Funk Album | Funk is in the House | Won | [8] |
| Best R&B/Soul Band or Performer | Won | [8] | ||
| 2000 | Best Blues Band or Performer (with The Roadmasters) | Won | [8] | |
| Best Blues Album | On the Prowl | Won | [8] | |
| 2003 | Best Guitarist | Won | [8] | |
| 2006 | Best Blues Band or Performer (with The Roadmasters) | Won | [8] | |
| 2009 | Best R&B/Funk Album | Live at the Maple Leaf (with Joe Krown and Russel Batiste, Jr.) | Won | [8] |
| 2015 | Best Blues Band or Performer | Won | [8] | |
| Best Guitarist | Won | [8] | ||
| 2016 | Best Blues Band or Performer | Won | [8] | |
| 2018 | Lifetime Achievement in Music | Won | [8] | |
| Album of the Year | My Future is My Past | Won | [8] | |
| Best Blues Album | My Future is My Past | Won | [8] |
Discography
- 1981 Leader Of The Pack (Hep' Me)
- 1986 Wolf Tracks (Rounder)
- 1987 Rainin' In My Life (Maison de Soul)
- 1988 Out of the Dark (Rounder)
- 1991 Wolf at the Door (Rounder)
- 1991 Sada (Pointblank)
- 1998 Funk Is in the House (Bullseye Blues)
- 1999 Blue Moon Risin' (Artelier)
- 2000 On the Prowl (Rounder)
- 2008 Doin' the Funky Thing (Zoho Roots)
- 2014 Howlin' LIVE at DBA New Orleans (Frenchmen Street Records)
- 2018 My Future Is My Past (ANTI-Records)[4]
