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Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr. (June 14, 1931 – November 23, 1995), recognized by the stage title Junior Walker, styled as Jr. Walker, was an American musician. His group, Jr. Walker & the All Stars, had been signed to Motown’s Soul label within the Sixties, and have become one of many firm’s signature acts.
Life and profession
Walker was born Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr. in Blytheville, Arkansas, and grew up in South Bend, Indiana. His saxophone fashion was the anchor for the band’s general sound. The opposite authentic members of the group had been drummer Tony Washington, guitarist Willie Woods, and keyboardist Vic Thomas.
The Nineteen Fifties
His profession began when he developed his personal band within the mid-Nineteen Fifties because the “Leaping Jacks.” His longtime pal Billy Nicks (drummer) shaped his personal workforce, the “Rhythm Rockers.” Periodically, Nicks would sit in on Leaping Jack’s reveals, and Walker would sit in on the Rhythm Rockers reveals.
Nicks obtained a everlasting gig at a neighborhood TV station in South Bend, Indiana, and requested Walker to affix him and his keyboard participant (Fred Patton) completely. Shortly after, Nicks requested Willie Woods, a neighborhood singer, to carry out with the group; shortly after Woods would learn to play guitar additionally. When Nicks received drafted into the US Military, Walker satisfied the band to maneuver from South Bend to Battle Creek, Michigan. Whereas performing in Benton Harbor, Walker discovered a drummer, Tony Washington, to exchange Nicks. Ultimately, Fred Patton (piano participant) left the group, and Victor Thomas stepped in. The unique title, “The Rhythm Rockers,” was modified to “The All Stars”. Walker’s squealing gutbucket fashion was impressed by soar blues and early R&B, notably gamers like Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic, and Illinois Jacquet.
The Sixties and the Seventies
The group was noticed by Johnny Bristol, and he really helpful them to Harvey Fuqua, in 1961, who had his personal report labels. As soon as the group began recording on the Harvey label, their title was modified to Jr. Walker All Stars. The title was modified once more when Fuqua’s labels had been taken over by Motown’s Berry Gordy, and Jr. Walker & the All Stars turned members of the Motown household, recording for his or her Soul imprint in 1964.
The members of the band modified after the acquisition of the Harvey label. Tony Washington, the drummer, give up the group, and James Graves joined. Their first and signature hit was “Shotgun,” written and composed by Walker and produced by Berry Gordy, which featured the Funk Brothers’ James Jamerson on bass and Benny Benjamin on drums. “Shotgun” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Scorching 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart in 1965, and was adopted by many different hits, comparable to “(I’m A) Highway Runner,” “Shake and Fingerpop” and covers of the Motown songs “Come See About Me” and “How Candy It Is (To Be Cherished by You)”. In 1966, Graves left and was changed by previous cohort Billy “Stix” Nicks, and Walker’s hits continued apace with tunes comparable to “I’m a Highway Runner” and “Pucker Up Buttercup”.
In 1969, the group had one other hit enter the highest 5, “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)”. A Motown high quality management assembly rejected this track for single launch, however radio station DJs made the observe widespread, leading to Motown releasing it as a single, whereupon it reached No. 4 on the Scorching 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart. From that point on Walker sang extra on the data than earlier of their profession. He landed a number of extra R&B High Ten hits over the following few years, with the final coming in 1972. In 1979, Walker went solo, disbanding the All Stars, and was signed to Norman Whitfield’s Whitfield Data label, however he was not as profitable on his personal as he had been with the All Stars in his Motown interval.
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