Life and career Junior Walker

1 life , career

1.1 1950s
1.2 1960s , 1970s
1.3 1980s
1.4 death

life , career

walker born autry dewalt mixon jr. in blytheville, arkansas, , grew in south bend, indiana. saxophone style anchor band s overall sound. other original members of group drummer tony washington, guitarist willie woods, , keyboardist vic thomas.

the 1950s

his career started when developed own band in mid-1950s jumping jacks. longtime friend billy nicks (drummer) formed own team, rhythm rockers. periodically, nicks sit in on jumping jack s shows, , walker sit in on rhythm rockers shows.

nicks obtained permanent gig @ local tv station in south bend, indiana, , asked walker join him , keyboard player (fred patton) permanently. shortly after, nicks asked willie woods, local singer, perform group; shortly after woods learn how play guitar also. when nicks got drafted united states army, walker convinced band move south bend battle creek, michigan. while performing in benton harbor, walker found drummer, tony washington, replace nicks. eventually, fred patton (piano player) left group, , victor thomas stepped in. original name, rhythm rockers, changed stars . walker s style inspired jump blues , r&b, particularly players louis jordan, earl bostic, , illinois jacquet.

the 1960s , 1970s

the group spotted johnny bristol, , recommended them harvey fuqua, in 1961, had own record labels. once group started recording on harvey label, name changed jr. walker stars. name modified again when fuqua s labels taken on motown s berry gordy, , jr. walker & stars became members of motown family, recording soul imprint in 1964.

the members of band changed after acquisition of harvey label. tony washington, drummer, quit group, , james graves joined. first , signature hit shotgun, written , composed walker , produced berry gordy, featured funk brothers james jamerson on bass , benny benjamin on drums. shotgun reached no. 4 on billboard hot 100 , no. 1 on r&b chart in 1965, , followed many other hits, such (i m a) road runner, shake , fingerpop , remakes of 2 motown songs come see me , how sweet (to loved you) , had been hits supremes , marvin gaye respectively. in 1966, graves left , replaced old cohort billy stix nicks, , walker s hits continued apace tunes such m road runner , pucker buttercup .

in 1969, group had hit enter top 5, take (to win love) . motown quality control meeting rejected song single release, radio station djs made track popular, resulting in motown releasing single, whereupon reached no. 4 on hot 100 , no. 1 on r&b chart. time on walker sang more on records earlier in career. landed several more r&b top ten hits on next few years, last coming in 1972. in 1979, walker went solo, disbanding stars, , signed norman whitfield s whitfield records label, not successful on own had been stars in motown period.

the 1980s

jr. walker

walker re-formed stars in 1980s. on april 11, 1981, walker musical guest on season finale of saturday night live. foreigner s 1981 album 4 featured walker s blistering sax solo on urgent . later recorded own version of foreigner song 1983 stars s album blow house down. walker s version featured in 1985 madonna film desperately seeking susan. in 1983, walker re-signed motown. in same year, appeared part of motown 25 television special aired on may 16, 1983.

in 1988 walker played opposite sam moore one-half of fictional soul duo swanky modes in comedy tapeheads. several songs recorded soundtrack, including bet bottom dollar , ordinary man, produced ex-blondie member nigel harrison.

death

jr. walker died of cancer @ age of 64, in battle creek, michigan, on november 23, 1995. had been inducted rhythm , blues foundation year. buried in oak hill cemetery, in battle creek, michigan, under marker inscribed both birth name of autry dewalt mixon jr. , stage name.

walker s shotgun inducted grammy hall of fame in 2002.