Biography

Born in Canton, Ohio, and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Tad Walters began playing the guitar at age 12. As he was developing his guitar skill, Tad picked up the harmonica a couple years later at fourteen. He was influenced by the likes of Blind Boy Fuller, Robert Lockwood, Charlie Patton, Robert Nighthawk, and John Jackson, among others, and began his professional music career with the Bob Margolin Band in 1996. In that four year period he traveled the world with the band and played with musicians like Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Billy Boy Arnold, Cary Bell, and others. In 2001, Tad joined the Big Bill Morganfield band and stayed until 2004. Tad is now teaching guitar and harmonica lessons and concentrating on Piedmont blues and old-time jazz with Dave Andrews.

How We Helped:
Tad Walters, a Music Maker artist since 1999, is part of Music Maker’s Next Generation Artists program. This program focuses on supporting and encouraging younger artists performing Southern traditional music. While these artists do not receive financial support, they are assisted in other ways to foster the continuation of Southern music through this “Next Generation.” Music Maker helped Tad produce his record If You See K, featured him on the compilation CD Treasure Box, and arranged performances for him with John Dee Holeman and Boo Hanks. With Music Maker’s help, Tad has been able to play at several North Carolina festivals, including the Pinecone Series, Warehouse Blues, and the SOOTS Festival.