Walter Hyatt
Walter Hyatt (October 25, 1949 – May 11, 1996) was an American singer-songwriter renowned for his rich baritone voice and genre-blending compositions that effortlessly traversed folk, jazz, country, and swing. Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Hyatt's early musical influences ranged from British ballads to blues, shaping his eclectic style.
At 20, he co-founded Uncle Walt's Band with fellow Spartanburg musicians Champ Hood and David Ball. The trio relocated to Nashville in 1972 and later to Austin, Texas, where their innovative fusion of harmonies and diverse genres left an indelible mark on the local music scene. They released several albums, including An American in Texas, and influenced artists such as Lyle Lovett, who once remarked, "There's never been a band in Texas as swingin' as Uncle Walt's Band."
In the mid-1970s, Hyatt and Hood joined The Contenders, an electric group that blended popular singer-songwriter styles with country, soul, and R&B influences.
Hyatt's solo career commenced with the 1985 EP Fall Through to You, followed by the full-length albums King Tears in 1990, produced by Lovett, and Music Town in 1993. His songwriting was characterized by storytelling lyrics married to sophisticated, elegant melodies.
Tragically, Hyatt's life was cut short at 46 when he died in the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in 1996. His legacy endures through his music and the artists he inspired, with Lovett paying tribute in his song That's Right (You're Not from Texas), singing:
"Now David's on the radio, and old Champ's still on the guitar, and Uncle Walt he's home with Heidi, lying in her loving arms."