What is Little Walter?
{{Infobox musical artist | Name = Little Walter | Img = Little Walter.JPG | Img_capt = Statue in front of Jazzinstitut Darmstadt-Bessungen | Img_size = | Background = solo_singer | Birth_name = Marion Walter Jacobs | Alias = Little Walter | birth_date = {{birth date|1930|5|1|mf=y}} | birth_place = [[Marksville]], [[Louisiana]] | death_date = {{death date and age|1968|2|15|1930|5|1|mf=y}} | death_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] | Origin = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], [[United States]] | Instrument = [[Harmonica]], [[Singer|vocals]], [[guitar]] | Genre = [[Blues music|Blues]], [[Chicago blues]], [[rhythm & blues]] | Occupation = [[Musician]] | Years_active = 1945–1968 | Label = [[Chess Records|Chess]],<ref name=pc4/> Ora-Nelle, Parkway, Regal, [[Chance Records|Chance]], Tempo-Tone, [[Checker Records|Checker]] | Associated_acts = [[Muddy Waters]] | URL = [http://www.littlewalter.net www.littlewalter.net] }} '''Little Walter''', born as '''Marion Walter Jacobs''', (*May 1, 1930 in Marksville, [[Louisiana]] †February 15, 1968 in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]) was an American [[blues]] [[harp]] player. He was very important for the development of playing harp. ==Biography== Jacobs was born in Marksville, Louisiana and grew up in Alexandria, Louisiana, where he first learned to play the harmonica. At the age of 12 he left school and travelled around. He played in the streets of [[New Orleans]], [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], Helena, Arkansas and [[St. Louis]] and made his living. He learned more about playing harp from Sonny Boy Williamson II, [[Sunnyland Slim]], Honeyboy Edwards and others. 1945 he went to Chicago. There he made first recordings playing guitar for Floyd Jones. Frustrated about the fact that guitars were louder than his harmonica he started using a microphon and pluging it into the guitar amplifiers. So he could compet wi