Walter “Wolfman” Washington was a guitarist and singer who led the popular New Orleans bar band the Roadmasters.
- Died: Thursday, December 22, 2022. (Who else died on December 22?)
- Details of death: Died from cancer at the age of 79.
- We invite you to share condolences for Walter “Wolfman” Washington in our Guest Book.
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Walter “Wolfman” Washington sang in his church choir and taught himself how to play the guitar. After a few odd jobs, he became a professional musician at the age of 19. He earned the nickname “Wolfman” from challenging other guitarists, which was known as “wolfing.” He played with Lee Dorsey and Irma Thomas and was mentored by singer Johnny “The Tan Canary” Adams. He played in Adams’ band for 16 years, including many nights at Dorothy’s Medallion Lounge. Washington started his own band, the Roadmasters, known for their tight combination of blues, funk, soul, and R&B. The Roadmasters were legends of New Orleans nightlife, playing regular gigs at the Maple Leaf Bar, Benny’s Blues Bar, and recently at d.b.a. He released his first album “Leader of the Pack” in 1981 and his last album “My Future Is My Past” in 2018.
Notable Quote
“Johnny taught me a whole lot. “He’d say, ‘If you want to sing high notes, you’ve got to pay attention to how you go up there. Take your time. Don’t rush yourself. Once you get used to going up there, it will come easy.’ “He played guitar, too. He’d show me how to hit notes and how to run from one note to another and pay attention to why that note fits there. He was like a dad. I could talk to him about anything.” – He said in 1999 to Nola about singer Johnny Adams mentoring him
Tributes to Walter “Wolfman” Washington
Full Obituary: nola.com
