Abi Wallenstein was born on December 8, 1945, in Jerusalem. Wallenstein is a German blues musician who moved to Germany in 1960 and began a professional career in 1966. Often referred to as the "Father of the Hamburg Blues scene," his distinctive style incorporates Piedmont Blues picking and Delta Blues slide guitar, frequently performed on an eight-string guitar in open tuning. He has collaborated with artists including Joja Wendt, Vince Weber, Inga Rumpf, and Tom Shaka, and performed as a support act for Joe Cocker, Eric Burdon, and Johnny Winter. Wallenstein performs in various configurations, including the group Blues Culture with Steve Baker and Martin Röttger. Discography releases include Rockin' Shoes (1989), Good Morning Blues (1995), Blues on Air (1998), Step in Time (2003), and Blues Vibes (2025). Awards include nine German Blues Awards in the "Solo/Duo" category and the Blues-Louis prize (2015).
