The late Little Walter came into this world to forever expand the boundaries of the blues harmonica. His stirring use of tone, phrasing, and dynamics is to this day unequalled. Please enjoy these images of a true musical genius.
Little Walter in session. Photo Don Bronstein.
Photo portrait of Little Walter by Don Bronstein.
Little Walter, 1955. Photo Michael Ochs Archives.
Matty Rollins and Little Walter. Photo courtesy the Scott Dirks collection.
Little Walter on the right, and the person on the left believed to be Little Arthur Duncan. I love how they’re both holding opposite ends of a Chromatic Harmonica in this shot! Photo mid 1950s.
Little Arthur Duncan with Little Walter.
The cover of cash box magazine in November 1952 featured a photo of disc-jockey Al Benson interviewing Little Walter and Leonard Chess about Walter’s new hit single Juke!
From left, D.J. McKie Fitzhugh, Little Walter, Leonard Chess, and female fans at a South Side Chicago record shop, promoting Little Walter’s new hit record “Juke,” circa 1952. Courtesy of the Chess Family Archives.
Little Walter and friends. It looks like the person right above Little Walter is radio DJ McKie Fitzhugh.
Little Walter with radio DJ and nightclub owner McKie Fitzhugh at McKie’s Disc Jockey Lounge.
Little Walter with band members and friends, mid-1950s, Chicago. L-R: Fred Below, Luther Tucker, Little Johnny Jones, Letha Jones, unknown man and woman, Robert Lockwood.
Sunnyland Slim, Jump Jackson, Roosevelt Sykes, Little Walter (sitting) and Little Brother Montgomery. Photo by Paul Oliver.
Little Walter posing in front of a new car. Photo courtesy Mrs. Chapman.
Little Walter with his daughter Marion. Photo courtesy of the Little Walter Foundation.
Little Walter playing Bukka White’s guitar
Little Walter with Brian Smith and John Roberts in Manchester, England. Photo courtesy of Brian Smith.
Photo by Don Bronstein
Little Walter, Georges Adins, Muddy Waters, 1962.
Fred Below, Little Walter, and Sammy Lawhorn. Photo by Ray Flerlage.
Little Walter on Maxwell Street Playing Guitar – 1964
(Photo by Ray Flerlage)
Jimmy Rogers, Little Walter, Otis Spann at Pepper’s Lounge. Photo courtesy Mary Katherine Aldin.
Little Walter and Champion Jack Dupree, 1964! Photo John Goddard and Tony Cabanellas, courtesy Little Walter Jacobs Appreciation Group.
Little Walter and Brownie McGee, 1964. Photo John Goddard and Tony Cabanellas, courtesy Little Walter Jacobs Appreciation Group.
Little Walter in England, 1967. Photo by Koko Taylor.
Little Walter and Hound Dog Taylor.
Little Walter and Koko Taylor.
Little Walter and Junior Pettis. Photo Ray Flerlage.
Little Walter and Sammy Lawhorn. Photo by Ray Flerlage.
Little Walter. Photo by Ray Flerlage.
Little Walter, Harvey Hill Jr., Muddy Waters.
Little Walter at Teresa’s, 1965. Photo by Ray Flerlage.
Little Walter at Theresa’s Lounge. Photo by Ray Flerlage.
Little Walter relaxing at Theresa’s Lounge. Photo Ray Flerlage.
Junior Wells and Little Walter at Theresa’s Lounge. Photo Ray Flerlage.
Little Walter. Photo Ray Flerlage.
Fred Below and Little Walter. Photo by Ray Flerlage.
Fred Below, Little Walter, Sammy Lawhorn. Photo Ray Flerlage.
Little Walter, Junior Pettis, Sammy Lawhorn. Photo by Ray Flerlage.
Little Walter in Boston, March 1967. This was from the same photo shoot as the cover of the album Hate To See You Go. Photo by Mark Powers, courtesy Rien Wisse/Block Magazine Archives.
Little Walter in Boston, March 1967. A cropped version of this photo was used as the cover of the album Hate To See You Go. Photo by Mark Powers, courtesy Rien Wisse/Block Magazine Archives.
Little Walter in Boston, March 1967. This was from the same photo shoot as the cover of the album Hate To See You Go. Photo by Mark Powers, courtesy Rien Wisse/Block Magazine Archives.
Little Walter. Photo Val Wilmer.
Little Walter photo shoot during his 1964 U.K. visit. Photo by Cyrus Andrews.
Little Walter photo shoot during his 1964 U.K. visit. Photo by Cyrus Andrews.
Little Walter photo shoot during his 1964 U.K. visit. Photo by Cyrus Andrews.
An autographed photo of Little Walter, courtesy Sonny Burnett.
Little Walter at Theresa’s Lounge, October, 1965. Photo Ray Flerlage.
Little Walter in 1967.
Louis Myers and Little Walter at the Apollo Theatre!
Little Walter 1967 American Folk Blues Festival! Photo Chris Morphet.
Little Walter & Bukka White in Europe – 1967
(Photo by Jean-Pierre Leloir)
Photo by Jean-Pierre Leloir.
Little Walter & Hound Dog Taylor in Europe – 1967
(Photo by Jean-Pierre Leloir)
Koko Taylor, Sonny Terry, Odie Payne, Little Walter 1967
(Photo by Jean-Paul Leloir)
(Photo by Don Bronstein)
Little Walter in England, 1964. Photo by Mike Rowe.
Little Walter performing in England. Photo Mike Rowe.
Little Walter in 1967. Photo Jan Persson.
Little Walter in 1967. Photo Jan Persson.
Little Walter in 1967. Photo Jan Persson.
Little Walter in 1967. Photo Jan Persson.
Little Walter in 1967. Photo Jan Persson.
Per Scott Dirks, Little Walters affidavit of birth, issued in 1967 so that Walter would be able to get a passport. Note that Walter had also gone to Europe in 1964, leaving the question of a passport during that earlier trip.
Little Walter & James Cotton
(Photo by Ernest Withers)
Freddie Robinson, Little Walter, and Walter’s girlfriend Mattie.
Chuck Berry, Little Walter, Chicago DJ Ric Ricardo, Roy Hamilton
Little Walter illustration by Fred Carlson.
A wonderful illustration of Little Walter by artist George Fraynes.
Little Walter illustration by Brian Kramer.
Bob Corritore - Official Website 
Juke was the first blues song I heard as a teenager, I found a tape in a bargain bin called FOREVER. BLUES and Juke was the first cut. I played that tape until it disintegrated, have loved Little Walter ever since. He was always easy go to guy on my radio show!!!
Bob, the ‘unknown’ in the photo labelled of Chuck Berry, Walter and Roy Hamilton was positively ID’d on the RBF group as Ric Ricardo, Chicago DJ. Jim
thanks dude
Love this! Thank you!
Great to see all these photos. I played in a Little Walter tribute band (well, we played other blues as well, but LW was the core) in Oxford, England in the early 80s. I was on guitar. We had a great harp player, Robert Aterman, and he did a great interpretation on the vocals. I treasure the memory of playing with the band and getting to know those songs. For me Jimmy Rogers’ guitar playing was a highlight too – subtle, refined, underplayed. All so tight and economical and effective. Along with JJ Cale, a major inspiration for this English guitar player.