MARKSVILLE, La. (KALB) - The blues legend of Little Walter will live on in the City of Marksville thanks to a historical marker to honor his birthplace.
The marker was placed on the corner of Benjamin Street and Leviege Street to recognize where the Central Louisiana native’s rise to success began.
“Everybody would hear about him...but we never really met him because none of us were here in his prime,” said Marksville Mayor John Lemoine. “Wish we could have shared a part of that with him.”
Little Walter was born in Marksville on May 1, 1930, as Marion Walter Jacobs. From obscurity to international fame, Little Walter played harmonica in the Chicago blues scene of the 1950s and was a key architect of the ‘electrified Chicago blues’ style.
“People don’t realize the talent that was grown here in Louisiana,” said Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “I tell everybody, there’s something in the soil that grows so much talent. Every year, Louisiana has more Grammy nominees per capita than any other state by far. And, it’s because of people like this that made that music what it is today.”
According to Louisiana’s Office of Tourism, ‘electrified Chicago blues’ is a style of ensemble music that combines a collaborative and urban approach. The sound of Little Walter helped define electric blues and blues-based rock in the 20th century and beyond.
On March 20, 2025, Nungesser and Louisiana native and blues legend Buddy Guy unveiled the new historical marker.
Guy described working with Little Walter in the 50s blues scene.
“Now, if you ain’t got satellite radio, you can’t hear no blues,” Guy said. “But I’m not going to quit playing it, because I picked cotton here at six years old, and up...toward Lettsworth, right across the river. I grew up, and I didn’t know he was from here until I met him in Chicago. I got a chance to make two or three albums with him, and one of the albums I made with him I love so much is ‘I’m Crazy About Them Dead Presidents.‘”
Little Walter’s daughter, Marian Diaz Reacco, spoke about her father’s legacy and why she feels people have worked to keep his music and his memory alive.
“The young people need to know about this,” said Reacco. “People think that blues is just blues. In my life and the way I think, blues is history.”
Little Walter’s legacy has been added to the many musical legends across the Pelican State, in hopes of attracting further recognition of the many legends and stories born right here in Louisiana.
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