Big Walter Price

By Marv Goldberg

© 2025 by Marv Goldberg

Big Walter Price had some great 1950s recordings that I've always liked. One was "Pack Fair And Square" (even though I don't understand the title).

Walter Price had identity problems. He didn't want to be known as "Big Walter Price", but as "Big Walter, The Thunderbird". However, absolutely nothing I could find from the 1950s or 60s ever referred to him that way. He was usually just "Big Walter", although his band was sometimes called the Thunderbirds on record labels. In all, I could only find seven appearance ads between 1955 and 1969, four in Louisiana and three in Texas. Of these, only one mentioned "and the Thunderbirds", three said "and his Band", one just said "Big Walter", and two called him "Big Walter Price". [And, I'll bet you have no idea how many people were nicknamed "Big Walter". Sadly, I do.]

And then, there's his birthday. Later in life, he stoutly maintained, in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, that his birthday was August 2, 1914. It wasn't. It was August 2, 1917. It would have been nice to see his age in the 1920 census, but I can't find the family in it at all. In the 1930 census, taken in April, he was 12 (therefore born in 1917). In the 1940 census, also taken in April, his wife said he was 23 (which would work out to 1916, so she was off by a year). In his October 1940 World War 2 Draft Registration, he gave his birthdate as August 2, 1917. When he married in 1949, his birth year was "around 1918" (I didn't see the actual document). But what about his birth certificate?

Walter had what's called a "delayed birth certificate" saying he was born on August 2, 1917. In order to set up a Social Security account, you had to provide proof of birth. The problem was, his parents were farmers. Because of this, Walter was probably born at home, in Gonzales County, Texas. This is the way it was: "Making a trip to the courthouse was not high on a parent’s list of things to do when other children needed caring for and/or crops needed to be brought in."

So, although he had no proper birth certificate, he needed one to sign up for Social Security. He therefore applied to the State of Texas for a "delayed birth certificate" and, to get one, he had to present reasonable proof of the date. His mother went before some commission to attest to the August 2, 1917 birthdate. They also dug through Gonzales County files, and found a mention of Walter's birth that was filed on August 4, 1917 by doctor Charles Yerwood. This was considered adequate proof and the state issued him a delayed birth certificate on February 28, 1944. (This would have been greatly simplified if I could have found the family in the 1920 census, but rural folk were greatly undercounted.)

Since this certificate was issued after the censuses (1930 and 1940) and his draft registration, Walter seemed to have no trouble accepting the 1917 date until much later in life.

To sum up: according to that birth certificate, Walter Price was born on August 2, 1917, "three miles Northwest of Gonzales, Texas", to Willie Price and Annie Lee Thompson, both farmers. When he registered for the draft in 1940, he gave his full name as Walter Travis Price, but the "Travis" wasn't entered (by his mother) on the delayed birth certificate. According to that certificate, Walter was an only child.

[I don't know where the information comes from, but many times, when I research city directories, I'm presented with a date of birth (which isn't printed in the directory itself). The entry in the 1992 Houston directory is associated with an August 2, 1917 date.]

By the time of the 1930 census, Walter was being raised by his mother's older sister, Bertha Thompson Hunt, and her farmer husband Calvin Hunt. I assume his parents were divorced, or at least separated. He might have been with his aunt for around 10 years by that time (although not yet when the 1920 census was taken, in January of that year).

In a series of interviews that Roger Wood held with Walter between November 1995 and May 1996, we learn that it wasn't a happy childhood. He said that he had to pick a certain amount of cotton each day or be beaten by his aunt. He claimed he'd moved to San Antonio when he was 11, but that's not true; he was still in Gonzales in the 1930 census. He then claimed he met his father (who was living in Fort Worth) in the early 1930s and moved there to be with him.

However, when Walter married Katheryn Ford on September 25, 1939, it was in Bexar County, presumably in San Antonio. In the April 1940 census (and the 1940 City Directory), they were living in San Antonio with their month-old daughter, also named Katheryn. Walter was working as an attendant at the Station Hospital at Fort Sam Houston (as was his father). Mother Annie was also living in San Antonio, but not with his father. All three were in the 1940 San Antonio City Directory, at different addresses.

At some point he began working, as a cook and dish washer, for the "Katy Railroad" (the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad). Later he switched to the Texas & Pacific Railway as a coach cleaner. He also talked about working in Michigan (presumably in Detroit), Chicago, and Evanston, Illinois. While in Michigan, he sang with a gospel group called the Northern Wonders.

By 1949, Walter and Katheryn had divorced. On March 20, 1949, he married Annie Mae Smith in Muskegon, Michigan. He said he was 31, meaning a birth year of 1917 (and mistakenly claimed he'd been born in San Antonio).

Nothing more until 1955, when Walter (singer and pianist) turned up on Bob Tanner's TNT records of San Antonio (the name stood for "Tanner 'N' Texas"). His first record (released as "Big Walter And His Thunder Birds") was "Calling Margie", backed with the instrumental "Junior Jumped In", released in January 1955. The Thunderbirds (named after that nifty new Ford car, which had been introduced in 1954) were (at least) Walter Price (piano), Vernon "Spot" Barnett (sax), and Junior Moore (guitar; first name unknown). The disc was reviewed in the February 12 Billboard and the February 19, Cash Box:

Calling Margie (BB; 75): A funny etching, this is a telephone conversation (a little ribald in spots) in which Big Walter makes a date with his gal. It's all done above an infectious shuffle beat. Could make a bit of noise.

Junior Jumped In (BB; 70): Rhythmical instrumental is paced fine for dancing. Side could serve as good juke filler wax.

Calling Margie (CB; B): Humorous telephone conversation conducted by Big Walter well done. Could pick up a fair amount of action on its novelty appeal.

Junior Jumped In (CB; C+): A fast beat cornball sound that could do well on the juke boxes.

I have to say, I don't understand the title "Junior Jumped In". I would expect that to mean there was a standout guitar break by Junior Moore, but there isn't. The lead instrument is Barnett's sax, with Walter's piano also prominent. I don't really hear a guitar at all, but there seems to be a bassist.

Right from the start, there were name problems. First, there was another "Big Walter" (Walter Horton) who recorded for States at the same time ("Hard-Hearted Woman", released in December 1954). Then, there were the Thunderbirds on DeLuxe (early 1955), Bert Convy and the Thunderbirds, on Era, (spring and fall of 1955), and the Thunderbirds on G.G. (probably the 5 Owls; late 1955).

There were two subsequent TNT releases in 1955, although I can't date them any finer than that (and neither was reviewed). The first was "Six Weeks Of Misery", backed with "Oh No, No Blues"; the other was "This Is All", coupled with "You Make Lovin' So Easy". On these, the band was billed as the "Thunderbirds".

Later in 1955, Walter moved to Houston and began recording for Don Robey's Peacock label. The first release, from March 1956, was "Shirley Jean", paired with "Gamblin' Woman". Label credit went to "Big Walter and His Combo", which was the same name that had been used a year before by Walter Horton on States, when "Hard-Hearted Woman" had been released. The disc was reviewed in the April 7, 1956 Cash Box:

Shirley Jean (B): Big Walter sings a slow rock set to a pretty melody. Walter handles the item effectively. It was [sic; probably meant "has"] a very catchy phrase that could help it pick up good action.

Gamblin' Woman (B+): Big Walter sings one for the southern markets in a middle beat jump. It's a story of his dice shaking woman who loses all the time. This side has the drive to make it a strong selling wax.

Considering it wasn't a hit, "Shirley Jean" was associated with Walter for at least the next four years.

In July 1956, Peacock issued "Pack Fair And Square" and "Hello Maria", with label credit to "Big Walter and His Thunderbirds". On "Pack Fair And Square" (seemingly inspired by Joe Turner's "Flip Flop & Fly"), Price was backed by a few members of Little Richard's band, the Upsetters (Grady Gaines [sax], Clifford Burks [sax], and Nat Douglas [guitar]). The tunes were reviewed in the August 4 Cash Box:

Pack Fair And Square (B+): Big Walter rocks out a quick beat jump with a southern approach. It is a hard hitting wax that excites and has a very strong commercial feeling. Watch it. It looks like Peacock's strongest in a long time.

Hello Maria (B): Walter does a southern blues with an Italian accent. Cute, but it is incongruous hearing a wailing effort, backed with a down home guitar and done with a foreign accent. [I have to say he sounds ridiculous on this.]

Big (or "BiG" as the ad had it) Walter And The Thunderbirds appeared at Hicks Wagon Wheel (Opelousas, Louisiana) on two Saturdays: October 20 and 27, 1956.

In October 1956, Peacock released "You're The One I Need", backed with "Just Looking For A Home" (as Big Walter and His Thunderbirds). They were reviewed in the November 17 Cash Box:

Just Looking For A Home (B+): Big Walter comes up with the better side here as he rocks a big beat quickie bouncer. Deck moves in lively and pleasing style. The kids should like this one.

You're The One I Need (B): Big Walter chants a rhythmic slow beat blues with a strong reading. Walter gets into the mood of the tune and the deck comes off fair.

The New Orleans Louisiana Weekly of November 17, 1956 said: "Blues rocking Big Walter Price will check in at Frank Painia's Dew Drop Cafe for his opening Friday night [November 16]. His 'Shirley Jean', 'Gambling Woman', and 'Hello Maria' are juke box rockers. The big matinee is Sunday from 5 to 10."

Walter's next Peacock release was April 1957's "I'll Cry For You", coupled with "I Gotta Go" (as Big Walter and His Thunderbirds). They were reviewed in the May 4 Cash Box:

I'll Cry For You (B+): Big Walter wails a slow beat blues with an effective reading. Walter emotes dramatically and in good voice. Should find a receptive southern audience.

I Gotta Go (B+): Big Walter backs with a rhythm middle beat bouncer and turns out an engaging wax. Good swinging beat that will find acceptance in any market. Keep an eye on this deck. It could surprise.

According to Don Robey (in the May 4 Cash Box), the Peacock "Big Four" were Big Walter, the Johnny Otis Orchestra, Little Richard, and the Spirits Of Memphis.

There was one other Big Walter record listed in Peacock's discography: "Ramona", backed with "Can't Stand To Lose" (Peacock 1680). If it ever existed, it would have been issued around October 1957, however, no one seems to have it (or to ever have seen it). Presumably it was scheduled for release, and given a record number, but cancelled at the last minute.

"Big Walter And His Band" were at the Southern Club (Opelousas, Louisiana) starting May 16, 1958. I don't know how long the engagement was for, but the ad said "Music Nightly from 9:00 till 1:00". They were at the Moonlight Inn (same city) on August 23, 1958. The ad seemed to indicate it was only for that Saturday night. It also said "Recording Artist of Shirley Gene [sic] and many others".

He closed out the year with the December 1958 release of "Crazy Dream", backed with "San Antonio", on Eddie Shuler's Goldband label from Lake Charles, Louisiana. The label only credited "Big Walter" and the sides were reviewed (both "C+") in the January 10, 1959 Cash Box:

Crazy Dream: A soft, sincere intro starts off this steady-rhythm rock-a-ballad offering served up in feelingful fashion by Big Walter.

San Antonio: Walter is headed towards the Texas city on this beat-filled affair that he knocks out with driving authority. Rockin' instrumental backdrop should stir up the dust in the same locations.

Another Goldband record, "Never Too Old", paired with "Oh Ramona", was released in the spring of 1960, but not reviewed.

Walter's marriage to Annie Mae Smith didn't last either; in June 1960, Walter Travis Price married Louise Bolts Berry in Houston.

On October 8, 1960, "Big Walter (Shirley Jean)" appeared at the Club Riviera in Corpus Christi, Texas. They keep coming back to "Shirley Jean", his first Peacock release from early 1956.

On July 1, 1961, "Big Walter and His Band" were part of the Mojo Hand Show at the Skyliner Ball Room in Fort Worth, Texas. Also appearing were Lightnin' Hopkins and Sonny Boy Williamson.

Later that year, in October, Big Walter had a release on Melvin Dodge's Myrl label, from Ferriday, Louisiana. (Would it surprise you to learn that Myrl was Melvin's wife?) Once again credited to "Big Walter and His Thunderbirds", the sides were: "Feelin' A Little Worried" and "It's How You Treat Me". On these, Walter is playing the organ in the background. They were reviewed (both "B+") in the October 10 Cash Box:

Feelin' A Little Worried: Good, basic traditional blues opus with a vocal tailored to traditional shouting lines. Exciting deck for the r&b market.

It's How You Treat Me: Again, artist comes through with a winning blues performance. Here, the segment's a steady, middle beat affair. Two-sided potential.

The October 30 Billboard gave the disc three stars (but no review), which indicated "Moderate Sales Potential".

There was a photo in the October 28, 1961 Cash Box titled "Fats & Friend". It showed Fats Domino standing next to Walter, who's sitting at an organ. The text read:

HOUSTON - Fats Domino, here following a grand opening stint for the rodeo season at Huntsville, dropped in on friend Big Walter at a local nitery. Big Walter is shown giving Fats a rundown on his latest Myrl recording, "Feelin' A Little Worried".

Remember that.

A second Myrl record, released in October 1961, was "Watusie Freeze Parts 1 & 2", by "Big Walter and The Thunderbirds". Walter plays the organ on these instrumentals (which have bird noises on Part 1). The review was in the December 16 Cash Box:

Watusie Freeze Part 1 (B+): The organ-included combo, called The Thunderbirds, whoop-it-up in good sounding rock style. Whacky vocal bits are part of the proceedings. Zany affair that could come through.

Watusie Freeze Part 2 (B): Vocal bits are excluded from this end.

Myrl must have had huge hopes for this record. They re-released it in mid-1962 and Cash Box reviewed it again in their August 11 edition (this time, both sides were rated "B+"). On the same date, Billboard gave it three stars (for Moderate Sales Potential). Sick of it yet? There was a third review (in the November 10 Cash Box - once again, both sides were rated "B+"). The first Myrl ad for the record was in the December 1 Cash Box, over a year after its first release. "Headed For The Charts" screamed the ad. Strangely, the ad gave a Natchez, Mississippi address for Myrl, although the label still said Ferriday, Louisiana. Part of the reason could be that both sides also came out on the Global label, from Natchez, sometime in late 1962.

Another release of the tune was on Belgium's Discostar Records, in August 1962. "Watusie Freeze Part 1" was titled "Jungle Express (Watusie Freeze)" and credited to "Big Walter & The Thunderbirds". The instrumental flip, "Just About Daybreak (Madison)", also had the same credit, but it was actually by the Mighty Trojans (originally on the Dodge label, which was also owned by Melvin Dodge, owner of Myrl).

Recall that I asked you to remember that photo of Walter with Fats Domino in the October 28, 1961 Cash Box. The exact same photo was reprinted in their December 29, 1962 issue, this time with the title Playin' "Watusie". The text now read:

NATCHEZ - Big Walter (left) recently had a ball showing Fats Domino how his new deck of "Watusie Freeze" sounds on the organ. The tune is on the Natchez-based Myrl label.

At some point, probably during the 1960s, Walter became a DJ on Houston's KCOH radio.

On March 2, 1963, Big Walter Price was part of the 1963 Caravan Of Stars at the Armory in Kilgore, Texas. Also on the bill were Jimmy Wilson, the Royal Masters, Johnny Walton's Band, with vocalist Doris Johnson. The February 27 Kilgore News Herald said:

Tickets are now on sale for the event at which Big Walter Price, Sunshine recording star, will be featured at the organ. Price is known best for his "Watusi [sic] Freeze" and "Gambling [sic] Woman".

Notice it doesn't mention the Thunderbirds, or any band, for that matter. He's also called a "Sunshine recording star", but I can't find any releases on a Sunshine label back then.

There were two Big Walter releases in 1967, but I don't know which was issued first. One was on Huey Meaux's Tear Drop label: "Get To Gitten'" (one I've always liked), backed with "Nobody Loves Me". The second, on Jet Stream (also owned by Meaux), was "Diane, It's About Time", paired with "Love Me One More Time". Neither was reviewed.

In 1974, Walter appeared in a movie called "Sugar Hill", playing a drunken preacher. He also claimed to have had a small, unbilled part in 1977's "The Greatest", with Muhammad Ali.

Nothing more until 1980, when Walter was a part of a benefit show for Clifton Chenier that took place at Antone's (in Austin), on February 2, and also featured Lightnin' Hopkins. The January 19 Austin American-Statesman called him "Big Walter Price, the legendary rockin' piano man".

Sometime in 1981, the Lunar #2 label issued an LP called Big Walter Price. (Under the title, it [finally] said "Big Walter The Thunderbird". All the tunes were, per the cover, recorded live at the Agora Club, Houston, Texas on October 9, 1980, with the Lunar Blues Band. You'll find the titles in the discography.

On June 16, 1982, Walter appeared at a concert at Sadie Thomas Park in Bryan Texas. Also there were Johnny Copeland and Buckwheat Zydeco's band. June 14, 1983 found the Big Walter Price Band at Edgewood Park (also in Bryan), with Milt Larkin's All Stars and, once again, Johnny Copeland.

1985 saw another single from Big Walter, this time on Houston's Saba label. The sides were "What Fool Is That Knocking" and "Walkin Down Life's Hiway".

There was a mysterious 1986 release on the Hollywood label. Called "Thunderbird" (by "Big Walter and His Thunderbirds"), it's clearly a bootleg recording; but what is it a bootleg of? (The flip is "Let's Be Lovers" by the Starglows, originally from 1963.) There's an unidentified female voice that does some talking along with Walter and some male voices, which could be the band. Most of the talking parts are unintelligible, although his singing is fine. It was written by "Price" and published by Tri-Lite Music, but I looked at all of his labels and no other songs used that publisher.

Wonderful recognition: Houston, Texas declared June 6, 1989 to be "Big Walter Day".


In 2004, there were two CDs issued on the Sons Of Sunshine label (Tell Me and Pain In My Heart). These were followed by a further two in 2005 (Six Weeks of Misery and Cool Breeze). You'll find the titles in the discography, although I've been unable to find catalog numbers for them.

Big Walter Price passed away on March 7, 2012 at the ripe old age of 94. At the end, he'd been in a nursing home. His last known performance was in 2009, at a celebration of his "95th" birthday (it was actually his 92nd, but by then he'd adopted 1914 as his birth year, instead of 1917).

I like Big Walter Price, even with his identity problems.


Credit goes to Roger Woods: Big Walter  The Thunderbird Still Flies - Living Blues Magazine (#131 January/February 1997).


TNT (Big Walter and His Thunderbirds)
8005 Calling Margie / Junior Jumped In (instrumental) - 1/55
            (on the above, it's spelled "Thunder Birds")
8006 Six Weeks Of Misery / Oh No, No Blues - 55
8009 This Is All / You Make Lovin' So Easy - 55

PEACOCK (Big Walter and His Thunderbirds)
1661 Gamblin' Woman / Shirley Jean - 3/56
            (Above as Big Walter and His Combo)
1666 Pack Fair And Square / Hello Maria - 7/56
1669 You're The One I Need / Just Looking For A Home - 10/56
1674 I Gotta Go / I'll Cry For You - 4/57
1680 Ramona / Can't Stand To Lose - 10/57 (this may not even exist)

GOLDBAND (Big Walter)
1080 San Antonio / Crazy Dream - 12/58
1098 Never Too Old / Oh Ramona - spring 60

MYRL (Big Walter)
406 Feelin' A Little Worried / It's How You Treat Me - 10/61 (and His Thunderbirds)
409 Watusie Freeze Part 1 / Watusie Freeze Part 2 - 10/61 (and The Thunderbirds)

DISCOSTAR (Big Walter & The Thunderbirds) [Belgium - See text]
1023 Jungle Express (Watusie Freeze) / Just About Daybreak (Madison) - 8/62

GLOBAL (Big Walter "And The Thunderbirds")
409 Watusie Freeze Part 1 / Watusie Freeze Part 2 - late 62

TEAR DROP (Big Walter; label owned by Huey Meaux)
3130 Get To Gitten' / Nobody Loves Me - 67

JET STREAM (Big Walter)
742 Diane, It's About Time / Love Me One More Time - 67

LUNAR #2
L2M-20017 Big Walter Price with The Lunar Blues Band - 81
      Walter's Boogie
      Blueberry Hill
      Big Walter's Lament (track list says "Big Walters Lement")
      Nobody Loves Me
      I Don't Know (track list says "Don't Know")
      Down The Road I Go
      Shirley Jean
      Hello Maria
      Did What You Told Me

SABA (Big Walter)
9217 What Fool Is That Knocking / Walkin Down Life's Hiway - 85

NEW ORLEANS R&B (Big Walter - a bootleg record)
100 Shirely Jean [sic] / [Nothing Sweet As You - Bobby Mitchell] - ??

HOLLYWOOD (Big Walter and His Thunderbirds; see text)
1016 Thunderbird / [Let's Be Lovers - the Starglows (Flamingos)] - 86

P-VINE
PCD-1615 Big Walter - Texas Thunderbird - 88
            The first six songs are with Albert Collins:
      My Tears (recorded in Houston, 1964)
      If Blues Was Money (recorded in Beaumont, Texas May 16, 1963)
      Big Bad Woman (recorded in Beaumont, Texas May 16, 1963)
      I Wanta Be Your Chauffeur (recorded in Beaumont, Texas May 16, 1963)
      Nothing But The Blues (recorded in Houston, 1964)
      My Tears (Original Version; recorded in Beaumont, Texas May 16, 1963)
            The remainder are Big Walter And His Thunderbirds, recorded in Houston, July 1971:
      Walking Across Texas
      Louise
      Clock On The Motel Wall
      Bloodstains On The Wall
      I Don't Know
      The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn
      I Thought I Heard My Baby Cry
      Walter's Boogie
      It Had To Be
      Long Way To Go
      I Won't Lie To You Anymore
      Walter's Boogie (Electric Piano Version)
      Someone Who Don't Understand
      I Wanta Be Your Chaffeur [sic]

ACE
246 Big Walter Boogies From Coast To Coast - 88
            All recorded in July 1971 for Roy Ames at Home Cookin' Records (but not released then). Many of them were on the prior P-Vine album.
      I Don't Know
      Walking Across Texas
      It Had To Be
      Bloodstains on the Wall
      Long Way to Go
      I Won't Lie to You Anymore
      Clock On The Motel Wall
      I Want to Be Your Chauffeur
      Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn
      I Thought I Heard My Baby Cry
      Louise
      Tequilas And Margueritas
      Someone Who Don't Understand
      Walter's Boogie

SONS OF SUNSHINE Tell Me - Big Walter The Thunderbird - 2004
      Tell MeWhat Fool Is That Knockin'
      Big Bad Woman
      I Treated You Like A Fool
      If The Blues Was Money
      Love Me One More Time
      Nobody Loves Me
      Pack Fair And Square
      To The Married Men
      Walkin' To Conroe [a city in Texas; home of Tear Drop Records]
      Walter's Boogie
 
SONS OF SUNSHINE Pain In My Heart - Big Walter The Thunderbird - 2004 
      Pain In My Heart
      Summer Is Gone Winter Is Almost Here
      Big Bad Woman (different version from the one on the Tell Me CD)
      My Ol' Lady Says I'm Cheatin' On Her
      Shirley Jean
      So Tired
      If The Blues Was Money (different version from the one on the Tell Me CD)
      Twelve Midnight
      Ma Ha
      Copyright Your Man
      If You Seen It Why Did You Step In It

SONS OF SUNSHINE Cool Breeze - Big Walter The Thunderbird - 2005  
      Answer To Stagger Lee
      Calling Margie
      Cool Breeze
      Get To Gettin'
      A Long Way To Go
      Hello Maria
      Oh No Blues
      Crazy Dreams
      I Thought I Heard My Baby Crying
      I Want To Be Your Chauffeur
      Feeling A Little Worried
      Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn
 
SONS OF SUNSHINE Six Weeks Of Misery - Big Walter The Thunderbird - 2005
      Louise
      Oh Ramona
      San Antonio Here I Come
      Six Weeks Of Misery
      Preacher Who Turn To A Drunk [presumably referring to his role in "Sugar Hill"]
      Never Too Old
      Santa Claus Is Right Outside
      The Old Clock On The Motel
      Sheets And Pillows Torn To Pieces
      Life's Highway
      Lookin' For A Home
      Junior Jumped In