Blue Midnight: The Film Biography of Little Walter

This is a trailer from the Blue Midnight, the upcoming film biography of Little Walter, widely considered to be the greatest blues harmonica player of all time. The film was produced and directed by Mike Fritz, a Boston-based film maker and musician. The film is unfinished due to a lack of needed funds for final editing, mastering, and licensing of Walter's music and film footage of Walter's last performances in Europe in 1967.
Update October 2013: The Little Walter Foundation is now offering a helping hand to Mike Fritz to raise funds to help to finish the film.
The Little Walter Foundation was founded by Little Walter's daughter, Marion Diaz Reacco, to preserve the legacy of her father, to provide blues music education and to sustain the blues music genre. Little Walter was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in May, 2013 at the first annual Little Walter Festival in Alexandria. We urge you to check out their site and support them at www.littlewalte....
The film was partially funded with a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. In March 2008, parts of the unreleased film were used during Little Walter's induction into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.
Little Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs (May 1, 1930 -- February 15, 1968), was an American blues harmonica player, whose revolutionary approach to his instrument has earned him comparisons to Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix for innovation and impact on succeeding generations. His virtuosity and musical innovations fundamentally altered many listeners' expectations of what was possible on blues harmonica. Little Walter was inducted to the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 in the "sideman" category, making him the first and only artist ever to be inducted specifically for his work as a harmonica player.

[@johnnyacevedojr8743]

I was so fortunate to talk to Little Walter, the first time I seen him I was 17 years old the second time I seen him he was sitting down All by him self, he was sitting down on those folding metal chairs and I walked up to him and asked him are you Little Walter Jacobs and he said yeah that’s me, I asked him if he saves all his 78’s and he says yeah I save them all and I asked him a couple more questions, what wonderful memories I’m 76 now and remember that night like if it was yesterday, Johnny Acevedo Jr

[@ickystrashcan....anothersm9749]

Great man ..I'm 50 ..I FEEL like I MUST share the love I have for this .and this kind of music ..because it has helped me thru all types of moods and times ( both good and bad..or hard or when things were great etx...it still does..) ..yes..I met J.L Hooker..AC reed ..and that was real cool.. God Bless ya..Blues is Blood..

[@kentkearney6623]

I save 78's. Brought my Grandma Kearneys record box when they cleaned her house out. All her sons went to war but my Dad. Those songs spoke. Great stories. Thanks.

[@ChefClary60]

Got to drink with Fred Below, Walter’s drummer in ‘78 at a Charlie Musslwhite show. Thrill of my life.

[@gregbluesland9410]

Anyone who doesn't dig Little Walter ain't got no soul. He is and always will be the greatest, an absolute genius and probably the greatest musician of the entire 50's decade.

[@josephcapra8484]

Yeah, who cares about that Miles Davis guy....lol Greatest Chicago-style harp player of all time, but I wouldnt have gone THAT far

[@greghokamp8552]

Miles Davis? Jazz harmonica, right? lol

[@TheBlueThird]

@@josephcapra8484 Walter was just as influential as Miles in a different way. Don't slam musicians.

[@willbarrow8271]

Little Walter, In my imagination was a "Badass from the get-Go", A legendary harp player. Slept underneath pool tables, had a gang and generally "blew the roof off". Who was "the greatest, this or that's largely Opinionation!" Who Cares? But if it's Real and tells a Story that's Believable, Ok then

[@markryan2109]

​@@josephcapra8484 ok

[@angelplaza4608]

Hands down the greatest harmonica player on this earth. Little Walter RIP.

[@smoothoperator7023]

S.B.W. 🎵🎶

[@reggaefan2700]

Now he's in heaven.

[@randolphr]

This has GOT to get finished & distributed.

[@frizziamo]

write me a check! :)

[@randolphr]

You and John Delgatto (of Sierra Records) are at the top of my 'lotto list' ...... I wont forget ya ! R.

[@tommyb5885]

Mike Fritz you should start a kickstarter campaign. Theres enough of us blues and harmonica enthusiasts to get the ball rollin. Share the link all over the forums and facebook.

[@greghokamp8552]

I've been listening to Walter Jacobs for 44 or 45 years and I couldn't decide who I would pick between him and Robert Johnson (to see a live recording of) if I could choose only one! To one of the greatest blues (singer, songwriter, bandleader & sideman) musical virtuosos to lay down a groove...R.I.P!

[@carltonparrott6124]

My favorite Little Walter song is "Key to the Highway". A lot of blues singers have recorded that song, but Little Walter OWNS it.No body else even close.

[@frizziamo]

completely agree!

[@bobaldo2339]

I do too. Little Walter's is the definitive version. Perhaps the most perfect blues single of the 50's@@frizziamo

[@poonchydub1]

I agree , my favorite version.

[@ChefClary60]

Love it. Song still sends chills up my spine. But there’s SO many. Roller Coaster, Juke, Just Your Fool. On and on.

[@LittleSammy91]

I can't wait to see the whole film!!!

[@johnnyacevedo681]

I saw him in Salinas California in 1959 at the Armory then I seen him in 1962 and I got to talk to him and ask him a few questions great memories

[@freezebodaman]

my grandfather knew him and yes he did drink but i still love the way he played

[@mskitty729]

Me too!!!

[@greghokamp8552]

You mean he drank? Ohhh well, that just ruins it for me!!!!

[@frankstephenson1746]

Always blamin the booze and drugs How about to 10 thousand cheeseburgers on the road ???

[@DaveysLoft-jv7fz]

Most excellent Cooool.

[@jerryj920]

May 1st: Happy birthday Blues Singer-Musician Marion Walter Jacobs / Little Walter (1930-1968) Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame. Thank you and God bless. RIP. Thanks for the upload, Mike Fritz. Blessings

[@mwhite76]

Thank you for making this - Little Walter deserves more recognition for his influence on the Blues and blues Harmonica. I've also got a bunch other harp players that deserve a bio pic too if you got the time LOL :)

[@NicholeSnickers23]

My dad had a record with a bunch of songs on it. "My Babe" Just so happened to be number 6. I wore out that part of the record. Years go by and my dad gave me a CD for my birthday. First song was "My Babe" Second song........ "My Babe" Literally it was 14 of them...Little Walter was my everything. From the age of 4 til now 33...and so on will it go. Wally you will always be...My Babe....

[@patemmert2672]

My Babe made me put my childish doll down and made me boogie into pubescence.

[@OneCharmedLife]

Thanks a lot. His sound when I first heard it, I could not believe it. And here I am listening again and I still can not believe it. I played his records till they about turned into powder and I just could not come close to this man. It was good to see "Cadillac Records", but I know that was to a large degree fiction. I have listened to harp and played for nearly 50 years. I have heard hundreds play. No one I have heard can do what he did, but I am sure someday, someone will. Won't that be amazing?

[@earlthomas9683]

I can't wait to see the rest..

[@joanmjames2495]

Enjoyed seeing Louis and Dave Myers on this. Louis Myers is one of the very best Blues guitarists I've ever heard. Dave Myers certainly one of the very best bassists in blues.

[@tororeslee8305]

Little Walter was the Greatest Harp player there ever was period. 🎤🌍👍💯

[@bobaldo2339]

I agree. Walter was the greatest. The other greats were Sonny Terry, & Sonny Boy Williamson. Every harp player since them is just adding footnotes.

[@jimchumley6568]

Torores Lee Amen!

[@richgreenberg448]

@@bobaldo2339 Don't forget Big Walter.

[@MrUnknown07]

Hurry up and finish it!!!! Its killing me not being able to watch more!

[@jaysewall1]

A-1. About time someone did this on Little Walter. Many, many tnx!

[@bonnietaylor-williams5112]

Thanks for sharing this. I love it, a true treasure.

[@aladdinlamp118]

There are things he played that I could never figure out in a million years. I .e. "That's It " great playing that to this day no harp player could ever do.

[@superblop27]

Little Walter - Greatest & Coolest !! - I'm looking forward to this film.

[@kenoettinger3005]

It's not that he is recognized as a brilliant instrumentalist but had other peers who did what he could--no, he was the originator, the innovative force behind the creation of a "sound" that has no equal. He was a genius musician, who happened to chose Harp as his way to express himself. And if all of that wasn't enough, Walter could flat-out sing.

[@dennydude3737]

I've never heard somebody play the harmonica like him. No comparison. He could make it sing. And nothing against his vocals!

[@DeltaBluesOutlaws]

I love this documentary! ...I've always wanted to know more about this guy. ...all the best to you and your project. Billy

[@sld67869801]

AWESOME! Can't wait to see the finished product. So cool you are making this film.

[@VivBluesYid]

Absolutely the Charlie Parker of the blues harmonica - & like Bird he was )by all accounts I have read) basically a seriously "difficult" person! But as a musician - without peer!

[@harpothehealer]

Little Walter was a product of the times ,brilliant , for me it was simply the sound, when I first heard that electric thing going on that' s what drew me too it.

[@manoelluizteixeira8073]

Um mestre da harmônica, mais conhecida aqui no Brasil como 'GAITA DE BOCA', um gênio mucical, como outros do seu tempo, insubstuíveis. maneco - Porto Alegre-RS -Brasil.

[@waynekimpel8172]

He was so great I can't believe I had not heard of him until Cadillac records came out.

[@kevinobrien6837]

little walter is the man ..........what a player ...

[@MichaelBarry380]

So Mr Fritz, how can we help finish this? This is tooo good to let go.

[@tcgartland]

Mike,Way to go! This looks great! Excellent!

[@Harpin519]

Thanks for posting ,,can't wait to see this Thaaang ,,Cheers mate

[@shirleyconerly1089]

Why was this man not more documented I would love to see old footage of him and interviews as well I understand that this was during the chittlin circuit but this man should Be been more documented my kids and I love Cadillac records and we love researching true stories man just wish there was more to learn of him

[@MrTheNugget]

This is great stuff and needs to be finished.

[@OneCharmedLife]

Hats off to you for this! The most brilliant virtuoso of the harp ever. I totally agree with Junior and Sam and all the rest.

[@stephenmartinez2211]

There needs to be a movie about ography done about Little Walter he did so much for the Blues in Chicago Juke joints he's a legend

[@BlairCarlyle]

Does anyone know anything about the photo of the hilly road at 6:09? I want to find the original photo

[@craigbikes8831]

truly the greatest

[@SlimDavenport]

Little Walter, best ever.

[@davidcatalano3781]

One of my closest friends who is a harmonica player used to own little Walter's wallet and gave it back to his sister when she lived in Oakland California. I can't remember how my friend originally acquired it but he did give it back to the family.

[@luciencampanella6701]

David Catalano that’s some cool shit

[@aladdinlamp118]

He was the best yes and He is forever

[@Wildvideonyc]

Immitiatng Little Walter is easy. Just take the power blast of a saxaphone,give it the chordal range of an organ,the attack of an electric guitar and mix it with the head ripping sound of an oncoming locomotive and you got Little Walters harp sound. Good luck!

[@frizziamo]

very nice description!

[@OneCharmedLife]

lol! Perfect description! Yeah, that;s about as easy as can be!

[@marylane1716]

WildVideoNYC OKAY!

[@knocks101prime8]

Perfect

[@jimchumley6568]

WildVideoNYC Cool comment!

[@uadoreme78]

RIP Little Walter.

[@lennisefuller3721]

😪 To live a fast hard life..Rest in Peace Dearheart 💐🙏🏽❣️

[@smoothie2629]

Dude, is this project now abandoned or what, I see no more crowdfunding for this anymore? You can't let this masterpiece go, tell us: How can we help finish this

[@richardhill6640]

Now THIS man is the GOAT!

[@knocks101prime8]

Thank you sir

[@parasitodeluz]

Thak you Mike Fritz for this. How about a documentary about ladies of Blues Big Mamma Thornton & Big Maybelle? It would be awesome, for there is so liittle information about them.

[@madeleinehague648]

Remembering Little Walter on his celestial birthday: Marion Walter Jacobs (May 1, 1930 - February 15, 1968)

[@PEIXONAUTA00]

Madeleine Hague I Love peoples who have a contact with history Marion Walter Jacobs kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKqnqYqjrq5_iZY My cover for the master

[@popculturechameleon5100]

If this ever does get finished I hope it gets picked up for distribution I would get the dvd/BLURAY in a heartbeat give kickstarter a try- this trailer has blown up of one of the popular blues harmonica forum with over 40 comments to it

[@myradioon]

I like Little Walter's singing too!

[@kentkearney6623]

❤❤❤Respect for the fans that brought him a rolling stone. St. Mary's Evergreen Chicago.

[@jczetroc8144]

did this ever come out? would love to see it. hell get the rolling stones to finance it. they cover 3 or 4 songs of his on their upcoming record.

[@frizziamo]

hey prez, I'm still working on it.....trying to get some funds to finish it up. Mike

[@kathybutler13]

A very Brillant Man That Was Underated🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️❤️❤️

[@aladdinlamp118]

Every thing from country acoustic style to Chicago electric, he covered it all

[@ashleywood1628]

hey Mike....how's it going ? Any film news. Very worthwhile project, best of luck.

[@stashdauber]

Very exciting that you're doing this! Hate to be "that guy," but you might want to check the spelling of Sam Lay's name in the title.

[@stephenmartinez2211]

There must be a movie done about Little Walter he was one of the greatest if not the greatest harp player in the world he did so much for Chicago's blues and Juke joints please Hollywood make a movie about him in his life thank you

[@66badsign]

A very important dokumentary.

[@newsmanbluesman]

@Mike Fritz your music choice and sequence is deadly - Im told Walter should have stayed a pothead - as for instrumentals, I bet our man Sugary Ray Norcia in a determined effort would actually come closest to the man in tribute - but what you need is a recording engineer willing to do what was done on Walter sessions, which we know now (re tape delay) was done in post! - not sure even if Walter could hear echo or reverb while tracking, which melts the mind if true - carry on your good work

[@checker764]

Hi Mike - glad to see you're still on the case! Any updates?

[@darrenwatsonmusic]

Hope the music and dialogue aren't going to be panned hard left and right in the finished movie? Can't wait to see it!!! :-)

[@joeyscruggs5180]

The real deal: Little Walter WAS the Blues.

[@SaphirSouenEstherG]

Thank you. Shared on Google+, July 29, 2018

[@bluesriot2]

Little Walter's song 'Blues w/a Feeling" - geez - how does a song get more authentic than that ?

[@frizziamo]

thanks buddy latest news is that we're going to Little Walter Fest in October and interview more folks to fold into the film....

[@edsmusic1000]

And he was only 38? My God, In that film It looks like he was just getting a headstone or marker, after all those years. How sad and what an Injustice. The BEST harp player ever and he ends up beat up and dead so young. God bless him! Thank you to David W. for the info on how he died. Thank you you very much David W.

[@nelsonhibbert5267]

Not really an injustice. The guy was an outstanding musician, but also self destructive, an alcoholic, a street fighter and a general screw up. It was never going to end well.

[@1horton3]

Yes I agree an injustice to die in 1968 or so and then have an unmarked grave until 1992 or thereabouts. I was at that ceremony (blond haired dude black coat and tie at the end) - and the look on Louis Myers face pretty much says it all’s

[@briancorcoran3543]

Is that song at 5:23 Night Train or does it just sound like it?

[@checker764]

It's Little Walter's single "Off The Wall".

[@JohnnyBGoode215]

Sam Myers told me that the story of Walter's death was a coverup by the Chicago police. He told me that 2 cops beat him to death. Check it out when you research the film.

[@resilience4lyfe331]

2019 his eyes have me mesmerized... I know He had some kids!

[@ericdandridge622]

Yeah, he made his women really moan!! But he beat his women. It is amazing how long women will put up with mistreatment for a long time just because of fame and certain things like some one's eyes. Smh. It not logical.

[@jameshiab2017]

@@ericdandridge622 how do you know he beat his women ? It’s a story behind that

[@vivavrolijk]

Any idea when it's finished? Can't wait to see it!

[@TaishoKenpachi]

What's the name of the first song @ 0:19?

[@monosoglut]

Boogie

[@TaishoKenpachi]

Marcus Gentry thank you

[@TaishoKenpachi]

Marcus Gentry Marcus, what's the name of the second song at 1:20 sorry to bother.

[@rudimwongozi9412]

"I Just Want To Make Love To You". The blues classic by Muddy Waters (written by Willie Dixon) Little Walter's harmonica MAKES that record.

[@greghokamp8552]

Definitely one of the most hauntingly brilliant harp solos!

[@bluesdoggmusicrediker4614]

i think "off the wall" and "nobody but you" are my favorite LW songs, shit i like em all !

[@captroar]

GO LITTLE WALTER.

[@marvinwhittaker]

The harmonica and the electric guitar makes up the Chicago blues sound.

[@checker764]

Mike, does this mean the finished production will finally see the light of day soon? I hope so!

[@TopJimmyWinn]

He sounded very talented ✌🏻

[@TheMrFelipet]

Hi! There is some date when it is expected to be avaliable? I am very interested about this stuff! Fantastic!

[@randynorth5464]

Does anyone know the status of this film as of 10/25/2015?

[@PopUpRecordShop]

Any relation to big walter?

[@nelsonhibbert5267]

No. Little Walters real name was Marion Walter Jacobs. Big Walter was called Walter Horton. Little Walter was just a kid when he was in Muddys band, I'm guessing that's where the "Little" came from.

[@minorsnow5306]

What was the song being played at the end?.

[@checker764]

"Blue Midnight"

[@anonymousanonymous7304]

Ok...this is a stupid question, but are they playing a Horner harmonica like we had as kids? Or did they play something else? That's all we ever saw back then.

[@nelsonhibbert5267]

Walter played a standard diatonic harmonica for the majority of his songs, but would also frequently play a chromatic. The instrument of choice back then seemed to be the Hohner Marine Band. So if you just had a small 10 hole diatonic as a kid, you might've had the same model Walter used.

[@mauroalderete4847]

Traduccion por favor!! subtitled please!!

[@curleyteeth]

The harps you can get today are so much easier to play than the old Marine Bands that Walter played.They come in all different styles and tunings and are plastic and easier on the lips but still no player has ever convinced me that they come close to Little Walter and I have heard most of them.Walter Horton is the closest.Jim.Liverpool.

[@jimchumley6568]

curleyteeth So true and special tuned which I play.

[@teegeebeeful]

I agree about Walter Horton. But I reckon Blind Owl could have been in the same league as well if he chose to concentrate on the one instrument and of course live a longer life,

[@johnnyacevedo681]

Curly teeth you probably haven’t played the harmonica that much I have a Marine band from the 50s that is hard to match with today’s Marine bands

[@ate_a_radio]

was this film ever released?

[@maumaumusica9006]

what's the tune you hear right in the beggining of the trailer? thanks.

[@12nites]

I thought the same thing about "It's too late brother". Although I thought Willie Dixon wrote it for him.

[@BGreat2]

Too bad there is no CC. I'm hearing impaired and when there is voice over music I can't make out the voice.

[@Riverdeepnwide]

Benny, pull the right channel, the dialogue is in the left. Cheers 👍🏻

[@EveDavis53]

Who was the person in the jean jacket and cowboy hat?

[@checker764]

Jimmie Lee Robinson, who played guitar in Little Walter's band from. 1956 to 1959.

[@willieraye]

SO HOW'D HE PASS

[@HarmoActive]

Hey, what's happening with the film? Please start a campaing on kickstarter or another crowdfunding site and I am sure the harmonica community from around the world will contribute the funds needed to complete the film. Thank you for your work @Mike Fritz

[@minniejefferson1]

I love his song my babe I think he's one of the greats.

[@michelleburge4136]

Looking for funding to finish the project, how about doing Kickstarter?

[@michaelnewby3569]

This video might be alright if they bring the background music down, I can't hardly hear what the people the INTERRVIEWER IS SAYING.

[@Riverdeepnwide]

Michael you can pull the right channel down, the dialogue is in the left. Cheers 👍🏻

[@MzYoungblood19]

Hubby♥️. Well, If I would’ve been alive back then lol

[@frizziamo]

curry, thanks for the listen, but indeed song 2nd is very early Walter.