This is the seventh installment of this category featuring recordings of outstanding performances by noteworthy guitarists – or – outstanding guitarists giving noteworthy performances. 

That introduction used to include this explanation: It was inspired by whatever god oversees the shuffle mode of my iPod classic during my morning walks.

Well, that’s exactly what happened today! So, when this piece poured out of my headphones this morning, I knew that I simply had to introduce you to…

“Shufflin’ The Blues” by T-Bone Walker.

Give a listen! You’re about to hear 3 minutes and 22 seconds of electric Blues guitar fabulousness spanning 11 choruses of the 12-bar Blues progression in the key of C.

“Shufflin’ The Blues” was written by Aaron “T-Bone” Walker. It is from the 1959 Atlantic Records LP T-Bone Blues. The performance you just listened to was recorded on December 14, 1956 in Los Angeles, California. Nesuhi Ertegun was the producer.

The musicians on that track are:

• T-Bone Walker – Electric Guitar
• Lloyd Glenn – Piano
• Billy Hadnott – Bass
• Oscar Bradley – Drums

Aaron Thibeaux Walker was born on May 28, 1910, in Linden, Texas. By the age of 15, he was performing professionally on the Blues club circuit in and around Dallas.

Under the title “Oak Cliff T-Bone,” Walker cut his first record in 1929, singing and playing acoustic guitar. He made his first significant recordings with an electric guitar in 1945.

T-Bone Walker is now widely recognized as The Father of the Electric Blues Guitar. He has been readily listed as a primary influence by such major musicians as B.B. King, Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix.

Aaron Walker passed away on March 16, 1975, in Los Angeles, California.