I was just wondering how many thousand times I've listened to Walter Hyatt sing Ruby since the release of Blame It on the Bossa Nova in the 70's. It is a wonderful gift to see the video clips that have come out on RU-vid in recent years. They confirm again and again the special genius of Walter Hyatt, Champ Hood, and David Ball. They also confirm that the magnificent Champ Hood seemingly never played a lead break the same way twice. Thank you, unclewaltsband!
Walter always killed it when he sang Ruby - he loved singing it and it showed. I didn't know until years after Walt and Champ were gone that Ruby is an old Ray Charles cut. Walter certainly made this song his own; he and the band did a beautiful job of singing and playing. Always a pleasure to see Champ playing with Walt!!
RIP Walter Hyatt (1949-1996) A victim onboard ValuJet Flight 592 which crashed into the Florida Everglades in Miami-Dade County, Florida due to an in-flight fire caused by improperly packaged cargo leading to loss of control and/or pilot incapacitation.
Molly and I got married November 15th 1995.We flew to Nashville the next day and I called Walt to try and get together. He said that Billy Blocks wife's band was playing that night at the Guitar Bar.We met and he invited us over the next day to meet his son and new daughter Rose.I called him the next day day to say we couldn't make it. One of the worst decisions of my life.I miss you Walter and Heidi you are doing a great job!
Austin had soooo many special artists as the Armadillo started, then migrated into Soap Creek and all those others. Antone's. I used lament the demise of so many groups - but really Walter's and Stevie Ray's deaths were so profound - and I think world-changing. But maybe Champ's was just as far-reaching. And they weren't all.
