as rhythm guitarist

Walter's guitar work was too often overshadowed by his own songwriting and heavy lead hitters Goldsmith and Hood. His cool rhythms made the hot Contender leads sound that much better. A mastery of scores of hip jazz chords made Lyle Lovett remark (and we paraphrase), "I had to ask Walter to teach me very carefully, step-by-step, exactly what is was he was doing." Wise brother George Hyatt often remarked, "Walt is the best rhythm man on the east coast."