Toby Walker, a renowned roots music fingerstyle guitarist, is known for his captivating live performances that weave together sharply honed musicianship with storytelling and genre-bending arrangements.
A Lifetime of Music
Walker’s musical journey began when he picked up a guitar at the tender age of 14. He spent his early years playing birthday parties in classmates’ basements, and the attention he received convinced him that music was his chosen path. With a keen appreciation for blues, Walker soon found himself diving deeper into the genre, inspired by Chicago blues icons like Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy, and Otis Rush.
- Walker’s desire to learn the blues led him to take trips down South to learn his craft at the feet of masters, including Etta Baker, R.L. Burnside, and Othar Turner.
- He spent much of his 20s playing gigs and giving guitar lessons at a local music store, but economics forced him to take a job as a mailman.
- Walker spent 17 years working for the post office before officially quitting in 2004, but during this time, he continued to play, compose, and teach.
A New Approach to Live Performing
Walker’s live performances have evolved over the years, incorporating a blend of genres and storytelling. He has crafted a raconteur-like approach to live performing, where sharply honed musicianship blends with natural storytelling ability.
“People are really enjoying the stories. I thought about it and decided to take a lot of these complex guitar pieces I’ve been playing with some songs and interspersing a lot more stories. I’m tapping into fiddle tunes, some jazz arrangements, blues arrangements—these are all instrumentals. While the songs are pretty much blues/swing-based, I’ll throw in an arrangement of a Beatles song or of ‘Little Martha’ by The Allman Brothers. There’s even a Celtic tune. It really covers a broad spectrum.”
The Great American Migration in Blues Music
Walker’s knack for teaching eventually led to him developing a four-part curriculum called The Great American Migration in Blues Music. He brings this curriculum to middle and high schools for two decades-plus, teaching them about the Great Migration, sharecropping, and the Depression.
| Topic | Music Used | Description |
| Great Migration | African-American spirituals and blues | Walker teaches about the Great Migration and its impact on African-American communities, using African-American spirituals and blues to illustrate the experiences of the time. |
| Sharecropping | Blues and folk | Walker teaches about the history of sharecropping and its effects on African-American communities, using blues and folk music to illustrate the struggles and hardships faced by those affected. |
| The Depression | Blues and jazz | Walker teaches about the Great Depression and its impact on African-American communities, using blues and jazz music to illustrate the struggles and hardships faced by those affected. |
A Message to Young Musicians
Walker’s music and teaching philosophy offer a message to young musicians: that music is not just a hobby, but a powerful tool for learning, collaboration, and performance. “I give them the music they have to write it to, and that whole period, they’re working on their songs. Each group comes up and sings the lyrics to their songs while I’m playing a guitar. It hits on a bunch of disciplines—history, collaboration with your peers, social studies and it also gets into performance and what it’s like to write and perform like a group.”
The Road Ahead
Toby Walker’s upcoming performance at My Father’s Place in Roslyn is a testament to his enduring passion for music and his ability to captivate audiences with his unique blend of genre-bending arrangements and storytelling. As he takes the stage, he will be carrying the torch of his musical journey, one that has taken him to the farthest reaches of the United States, Canada, the UK, and Europe. With his guitar as his trusted companion, Walker is ready to take his audience on a journey that will be remembered for a long time to come.
