Walter Roland was an American blues, boogie-woogie and jazz pianist, guitarist and singer, noted for his association with Lucille Bogan, Josh White and Sonny Scott. Music journalist, Gérard Herzhaft, stated that Roland was "a great piano player... as comfortable in boogie-woogies as in slow blues." "Roland - with his manner of playing and his singing - was direct and rural," Herzhaft added.