Toby

Bio:

What do you get when you combine powerhouse fingerstyle guitar work, yeoman songsmithing, a personal history richly steeped in the Delta Blues of the Deep South, and an impish sense of humor? You get Little Toby Walker, without a doubt one of the very finest acoustic blues musicians alive today. This outstanding musician won the best performer in the solo category in the prestigious International Blues Challenge in Memphis. From the opening bars of his high-energy Piedmont style, it is easy to see why: Toby is a true master of this American music idiom, taking it from the U.S. as well as England and Europe.

It doesn't take long to realize that Toby has absolutely no pretensions, nor is there a speck of diva about him. He readily bursts into contagious laughter, and whole-heartedly shares his joy of performing with his audience. When Toby performs, the sound you hear from the audience is the rapt intake of breath, followed by an awed wow! and thunderous applause. His easy virtuosity belies the incredible difficulty of these pieces, and on more than one occasion, "where is the other guitar player?" has been uttered by an astounded listener.

Toby has been endorsed by the Martin Guitar Co., National Resophonic Guitars and DAddario Strings. He has also been working with Carnegie Hall to present his innovative Blues in the Schools program to New York City schoolchildren.

Member Since:

July 12, 2006

Members:

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Influences:

..Here's a sample:

© copyright 2007, Bellport.com
Photos and Video by Larry "Wings" Sribnick

If you would like to see another YouTube video of Toby at the Riverhead Blues Festival, click here.

For improvisation: Duanne Allman, John Mooney, Blind Blake, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Charley Christian, Dickey Betts, Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, Coleman Hawkins, Pete Johnson (piano), Art Tatum, Ravi Shankar, Vasser Clements, Mike Bloomfield, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Charlie Parker, Doc Watson, any of the soloists from Bob Wills's Texas Playboys, Junior Brown, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Magic Sam, Mick Taylor, Jerry Garcia, Eubie Blake, Paul Butterfield, Sonny Boy Williamson, Hubert Sumlin, Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, Buddy Cage, Country Blues: Son House, John Hurt, Jack Owens, Son Thomas, Charley Patton, Eugene Powell, Blind Boy Fuller, Wille McTell, Skip James, Gary Davis, Etta Baker, Jorma Kaukonen, Robert Johnson, Bo Carter, Furry Lewis, R.L. Burnside, Blind Wilile Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Tommy Johnson, Lonnie Johnson. Stage presence (story telling and timing): David Bromberg, Arlo Guthrie, Roy Bookbinder, Bill Cosby, Song Writing and lyrics: Jack Williams, Woody Guthrie, Robert Hunter, Pete Seeger, Other Important Ones: Merle Travis (without a doubt!), John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters

Sounds Like:

Mix up all my influences in a bowl and serve it up hot.

Record Label:

Band In The Hand Records