Junior Walker
Junior Walker (born Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr., June 14 1931 – November 23 1995) & the All Stars were signed to the Motown label in the 1960s, and became one of the label's signature acts.
Biography
Walker was born in Blytheville, Arkansas and grew up in South Bend, Indiana. His unmistakable saxophone style was the anchor for the band's rambunctious sound. The other members of the group were drummer James Graves, guitarist Willie Woods, and keyboardist Vic Thomas.
The group was spotted by Johnny Bristol. He recommended them to Harvey Fuqua, in 1961, who had his own recording labels. When Fuqua's labels were taken over by Berry Gordy, Jr. Walker & The All Stars became members of the Motown Records family, recording for Motown's Soul imprint.
Their first and signature hit was "Shotgun", written by Junior Walker and produced by Berry Gordy. "Shotgun" reached #4 on the Pop chart and #1 on the R&B chart in 1965, and was followed by many other hits, such as "(I'm A) Road Runner", "Shake and Fingerpop" and covers of the Motown classics "Come See About Me" and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)".
In 1969 the group had another hit entering the top 5. "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" reached #4 on the Pop chart and #1 on the R&B chart. From that time on Walker sang more on the records than earlier in their career. A Motown Quality Control Meeting Rejected this Song for Single Release. The D.J.'s Made This A Classic forcing Motown To Release It As An A-Side Single.
In 1979, Junior Walker went solo and was signed to Norman Whitfield's Whitfield Records label. He wasn't as successful as he had been with the All Stars in his Motown period. Junior Walker also played the sax on the group Foreigner's "Urgent" in 1981. The solo was actually cobbled together from tapes that he had made with the band. He later recorded his own version of the Foreigner song.
In 1983, Walker was re-signed with Motown. He died on November 23, 1995 in Battle Creek, Michigan of cancer. Drummer James Graves died in 1967 in a car accident, and guitarist Willie Woods in 1997 at age 60.
In 2007 the remaining Allstars came together along with Detroit's Marty Saxman Montgomery and performed cross the country in a finger popping revival of the old Junior Walker show.
Discography
Albums On the Tamla Motown label (UK)
- TML11017 Shotgun LP
- STML/TML11029 Soul Session LP
- STML/TML11038 Road Runner LP
- STML/TML11097 Home Cookin' LP
- STML/TML11120 Junior Walker's Greatest Hits LP
- STML/TML11140 These Eyes LP
- STML11152 Live LP
- STML11167 A Gassssssssss! LP
- STML11198 Rainbow Funk LP
- STML11211 Moody Jr LP
- STML11224 Greatest Hits Vol 2 LP
- STML11234 Peace & Understanding Is Hard To Find LP
- STML11274 Jr Walker & The Allstars LP
- STML12018 Hot Shot LP
- STML12033 Sax Appeal LP
- TMSP1129 Anthology LP
- STMS5054 Greatest Hits LP
Singles
| Year | Song title | Pop | R&B | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | "Shotgun" | 4 | 1 | - |
| 1965 | "Do The Boomerang" | 36 | 10 | - |
| 1965 | "Shake And Fingerpop" | 29 | 7 | - |
| 1965 | "Cleo's Back" | 43 | 7 | - |
| 1966 | "(I'm A) Road Runner" | 20 | 4 | - |
| 1966 | "Cleo's Mood" | 50 | 14 | - |
| 1966 | "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" | 18 | 3 | 22 |
| 1966 | "Money (That's What I Want), Pt.1" | 52 | 35 | - |
| 1967 | "Pucker Up Buttercup" | 31 | 11 | - |
| 1967 | "Shoot Your Shot" | 44 | 33 | - |
| 1967 | "Come See About Me" | 24 | 8 | |
| 1968 | "Hip City, Pt. 2" | 31 | 7 | - |
| 1968 | "Home Cookin' | 42 | 19 | - |
| 1969 | "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" | 4 | 1 | 13 |
| 1969 | "(I'm a) Road Runner" | - | - | 12 |
| 1969 | "These Eyes" | 16 | 3 | - |
| 1970 | "Gotta Hold On To This Feeling" | 21 | 2 | - |
| 1970 | "Do You See My Love (For You Growing)" | 32 | 3 | - |
| 1970 | "Holly Holy" | 75 | 33 | - |
| 1970 | "Carry Your Own Load" | 117 | 50 | - |
| 1971 | "Take Me Girl, I'm Ready" | 50 | 18 | - |
| 1971 | "Way Back Home" | 52 | 24 | - |
| 1972 | "Walk In The Night" | 46 | 10 | 16 |
| 1973 | "Take me girl I'm ready" | - | - | 16 |
| 1973 | "Gimme That Beat, Pt. 1" | 101 | 50 | - |
| 1973 | "Way Back Home" | - | - | 35 |