- Walter Booker
Infobox musical artist
Name = Walter Booker
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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Walter Booker
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Born =December 17 ,1933
Died =November 24 ,2006
Origin = flagicon|USAPrairie View, Texas ,USA
Instrument =Double bass
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Genre =Jazz
Occupation =Double bassist
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Associated_acts =Cannonball Adderley
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Notable_instruments =Walter Booker (
December 17 ,1933 -November 24 ,2006 ) was an American jazz musician. A native ofPrairie View, Texas , Booker was a reliable bass player and an underrated stylist. His playing was marked by voice-like inflections,glissando s andtremolo techniques.Booker moved with his family to
Washington, D.C. in the mid 1940s. He playedclarinet andalto sax in college with a concert band. In 1959 he began on bass while in theUS Army , serving side-by-side in the same unit withElvis Presley . He worked withAndrew White in Washington after his discharge, playing in the "JFK Quintet" during the early 1960s.In 1964 Booker moved to
New York City , being hired byDonald Byrd . After that, he recorded and toured withRay Bryant ,Betty Carter ,Chick Corea ,Stan Getz ,Art Farmer ,Milt Jackson ,Thelonious Monk andSonny Rollins , before joining the "Cannonball Adderley Quintet" in 1969, starting an association which lasted until Adderley's death in 1975. His next work was to tour theUnited States with the Shirley Horn Trio, along withBilly Hart on drums. During the same time, Booker designed, built, and ran the "Boogie Woogie Studio" in NYC, a mecca for musicians from all over the world, and through the 1980s, he played and recorded withNat Adderley ,Nick Brignola ,Arnett Cobb ,Richie Cole , John Hicks,Billy Higgins ,Clifford Jordan ,Pharoah Sanders ,Sarah Vaughan , andPhil Woods .Booker was married to the
pianist Bertha Hope with whom he played in a trio that included drummerJimmy Cobb . In addition to his own quintet, he also formed "Elmollenium", based on the same core group as the Quintet (plus Bertha Hope) and dedicated to playing the music ofElmo Hope .Booker died at his
Manhattan, New York home at the age of 72.ources
* [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=11738 All About Jazz]
* [http://jazztimes.com/columns_and_features/news/detail.cfm?article=10943 Jazz Times]
* [http://www.pr-inside.com/bassist-walter-booker-dies-r27628.htm Obituary]
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