Walter Trout’s career began on the Jersey coast scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He then decided to relocate to Los Angeles where he became a sideman for Percy Mayfield and Deacon Jones. He also worked in the bands of John Lee Hooker and Joe Tex.
In 1981 he became the guitarist for Canned Heat. This led to an invitation to play in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers where he shared the stage with fellow guitarist Coco Montoya. He left the Bluesbreakers in 1989 and formed the ‘Walter Trout Band’ which developed a successful following in Europe, especially Scandinavia and the UK.
In 1998 Trout released his self-titled US debut album and renamed his band ‘Walter Trout and the Free Radicals’ (later renamed ‘Walter Trout and the Radicals’ and currently simply ‘Walter Trout’). Since that time Trout has been recording and touring in North America, Europe and India.
In 2002, he was featured on the Bo Diddley tribute album, Hey Bo Diddley – A Tribute!, performing the song “Road Runner” and many more guest appearances on other recordings.
In 2013, his album, Luther’s Blues, was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the ‘Rock Blues Album of the Year’ category.
In March 2014 while recording The Blues Came Callin it was officially announced that Walter Trout was suffering from a severe liver disease, Hepatitis C. At hospital he were told his survival depended on a transplantation. Supported by donations from fans, his wife raised the money needed for a new liver. He has been given less than a week to live.
In 2015 Trout had recovered and was able to go on Tour in Europe and in 2016, back in America. His new album, Battle Scars, was released in Oct. 2015. Battle Scars, chronicles his horrific battle with liver failure. But the 12-song set, (plus bonus tracks), which was released worldwide by Mascot Label Group’s Provogue Records on October 23 also captures the international guitar hero, on a new high — playing and singing at the peak of his abilities, infusing even his darkest numbers with creative joy that sweeps like a beacon. “I’m thrilled about this album, about my life and about my music.”
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Trout