Jr. Walker & The All Stars

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Walker was either born Autry DeWalt II or re-christened such following an earlier name, Oscar G. Mixon, on June 14, 1931. Although he mastered the crawl and the toddle, “Junior Walker” got that moniker not from frequent roaming but from his father, Roosevelt Walker.
Still, after his family moved from Blytheville, Arkansas to South Bend, Indiana, people started noticing his special rhythms. In his new home, he could pursue his lifelong specialty: music. With his trusty tenor saxophone, Junior Walker blew through high school and nearby R&B and jazz clubs with the Jumping Jacks.

Yet he wasn’t so focused on a straight-ahead path that he couldn’t stop and appreciate others’ talents, including those of organist Fred Patton and, later, blues guitarist Willie Woods.

After the rotating door of sidemen got its first spin, Junior Walker took the lead and served as the axis of what would become his signature band.

Having gigged in upper Indiana and lower Michigan, Walker settled down in the latter state. Late-1950s Battle Creek was the birthplace of what would officially be known as Jr. Walker and the All Stars: Woods, organist Vic Thomas, and Tony Washington on drums.

Here comes the inevitable Hitsville connection! Singer Johnny Bristol watched Jr. Walker and the All Stars during an El Grotto club performance. After wiping the sizzling grease off his brow, he told pal Harvey Fuqua about the band.

In 1961, Harvey the label hired the squealing saxophonist and his rip-roaring rhythm section. Records like “Cleo’s Mood” established their promise before Motown acquired Harvey’s roster and, in 1964, the band, which still featured Woods, Thomas, and Washington with Walker.
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  • Tr1xx

    "Take Me Girl, I'm Ready" does it for me . . . should deffo be in their top ten plays, (though "Walk In The Night" is beautiful)

    January 2012

  • Tr1xx

    "Take Me Girl, I'm Ready" does it for me . . . should deffo be in their top ten plays

    January 2012

  • T_Higginz

    "I said,Shotgun shoot em for he runs now Do the jerk baby Do the jerk now Hey!"

    November 2011

  • Druid66

    Their name is only slightly erroneous, because it leaves Junior out of the "All Stars" ... when he was surely a star, too! These guys could really get it done.

    September 2011

  • LeTHaL_MeTaLMaN

    cleo's mood is the sexiest song ever

    August 2011

  • Karsten_CG

    Whow, love that cool sax! Own only 3 LPs, but what a sound. RIP man.

    August 2010

  • floydalbert

    Great group I like the way he plays the sax in his songs

    August 2010

  • slickricky55

    coolio........

    November 2009
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