Jr. Walker & The All Stars
Jr. Walker & The All Stars was an American soul band led by saxophonist Jun… Read Full Bio ↴Jr. Walker & The All Stars was an American soul band led by saxophonist Junior Walker. They were one of the Motown signature acts in the 1960s. Originally "The Rhythm Rockers," 1965 saw the release of their signature hit "Shotgun". They remained active on the charts through to 1972, disbanding in 1979.
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.
Jack Douglas, then James Graves, later took Washington's drum seat. It was the 1965 lineup of Walker, Thomas, Graves, and Woods that rode "Shotgun" to the top of the charts.
If Junior Walker had thought he could foresee his professional course, then Motown had found a way to catch him off guard. A vocalist's no-show for "Shotgun" had forced horn man Walker to lay the vocal track. To his bewilderment, Motown had kept it.
Whether he wanted it or not, the country would know him as singer-saxophonist Junior Walker.
Nonetheless, soul-selling was a good thing for Jr. Walker and the All Stars. They stuck to their forte--R&B instrumentals--and made some noise with originals like "Shake and Fingerpop" as well as in-house covers like "How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)." (For the band's mainly Motown discography, click here.) Graves went lickety-split in '66. Hits like "(I'm a) Road Runner" kept the group running on high-octane fuel. After a series of boogie-able party tunes, it was, perhaps, time to dribble syrup into the frying pan.
Doesn't sound appealing? Junior Walker wasn't enthused about the ballad "What Does It Take (to Win Your Love)" himself. Though he'd continued to insert vocals on his records, he didn't want to really, you know, carry a sweet tune!
Producers Bristol and Fuqua prevailed in the studio, as did Jr. Walker and the All Stars on the charts. As far as Top 5ers went, that 1969 song and their first Motown hit were poles apart. Pieces like "Gotta Hold on to This Feeling" and "Hip City, Pt. 1" and "Pt. 2" maintained their stylistic seesaw.
The band had gotten a late start at Motown compared to other acts. But that didn't delay its fading Pop-ularity in the 1970s. Thankfully, the R&B market hadn't shrugged it off. And regardless of commercial clout, Jr. Walker and the All Stars' raucous soul influenced many grateful funkmeisters that decade.
In the mid-to-late '70s, Junior Walker tried his horn at solo works with producer Brian Holland (Hot Shot), and then on Norman Whitfield's self-named label (Back Street Boogie). Still, by 1981, the world had found other musical idols.
That year heralded another unexpected turn. A band he didn't know from a genre he hadn't tried convinced him to guest-play on one of its songs. So, after one listen and with one take, he did. That improvised solo, during the refrain of Foreigner's "Urgent," was so outstanding that it brought Walker a new concert standard as well as a nice fee. As if he really did Blow the House Down at Motown, that 1983 album signified the end of Junior Walker's recording days.
Those were the '80s and '90s. Part of the latter, anyway: Cancer struck Junior Walker in 1993. Reportedly, as time went on, he had trouble with not only performing, but also walking. On November 23, 1995, the disease extinguished the All Stars' leading light.
Walker's side men have kept the party going. Death has taken key members, like James Graves as early as 1967, and Willie Woods 30 years later from lung cancer.
The singing--of praises--has continued with the group's 2002 induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "Shotgun."
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.
Jack Douglas, then James Graves, later took Washington's drum seat. It was the 1965 lineup of Walker, Thomas, Graves, and Woods that rode "Shotgun" to the top of the charts.
If Junior Walker had thought he could foresee his professional course, then Motown had found a way to catch him off guard. A vocalist's no-show for "Shotgun" had forced horn man Walker to lay the vocal track. To his bewilderment, Motown had kept it.
Whether he wanted it or not, the country would know him as singer-saxophonist Junior Walker.
Nonetheless, soul-selling was a good thing for Jr. Walker and the All Stars. They stuck to their forte--R&B instrumentals--and made some noise with originals like "Shake and Fingerpop" as well as in-house covers like "How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)." (For the band's mainly Motown discography, click here.) Graves went lickety-split in '66. Hits like "(I'm a) Road Runner" kept the group running on high-octane fuel. After a series of boogie-able party tunes, it was, perhaps, time to dribble syrup into the frying pan.
Doesn't sound appealing? Junior Walker wasn't enthused about the ballad "What Does It Take (to Win Your Love)" himself. Though he'd continued to insert vocals on his records, he didn't want to really, you know, carry a sweet tune!
Producers Bristol and Fuqua prevailed in the studio, as did Jr. Walker and the All Stars on the charts. As far as Top 5ers went, that 1969 song and their first Motown hit were poles apart. Pieces like "Gotta Hold on to This Feeling" and "Hip City, Pt. 1" and "Pt. 2" maintained their stylistic seesaw.
The band had gotten a late start at Motown compared to other acts. But that didn't delay its fading Pop-ularity in the 1970s. Thankfully, the R&B market hadn't shrugged it off. And regardless of commercial clout, Jr. Walker and the All Stars' raucous soul influenced many grateful funkmeisters that decade.
In the mid-to-late '70s, Junior Walker tried his horn at solo works with producer Brian Holland (Hot Shot), and then on Norman Whitfield's self-named label (Back Street Boogie). Still, by 1981, the world had found other musical idols.
That year heralded another unexpected turn. A band he didn't know from a genre he hadn't tried convinced him to guest-play on one of its songs. So, after one listen and with one take, he did. That improvised solo, during the refrain of Foreigner's "Urgent," was so outstanding that it brought Walker a new concert standard as well as a nice fee. As if he really did Blow the House Down at Motown, that 1983 album signified the end of Junior Walker's recording days.
Those were the '80s and '90s. Part of the latter, anyway: Cancer struck Junior Walker in 1993. Reportedly, as time went on, he had trouble with not only performing, but also walking. On November 23, 1995, the disease extinguished the All Stars' leading light.
Walker's side men have kept the party going. Death has taken key members, like James Graves as early as 1967, and Willie Woods 30 years later from lung cancer.
The singing--of praises--has continued with the group's 2002 induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "Shotgun."
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Jr. Walker & The All Stars Lyrics
(I'm a) Road Runner {{ArtistHeader | star = Green | wikipedia = Jr. Walker & The…
(I'm a) Roadrunner Money, who needs it? Just to live my life free and…
6 By 6 Moro vi har fra morgen til kveld Da er det så…
A Love Like Yours What does it take (What does it take) To win your love…
A Place In The Sun Wild apple trees blooming all around I must be in a…
A Song For Mama A song for the broken hearted Don't let them get you…
Ain't That The Truth Hey man, what's wrong with you Hey man... play some blues! …
Ain't Too Proud to Beg I know you wanna leave me But I refuse to let…
All Night Long You were so wrong You never felt this way before Why so…
And When I Die And when I die and when I'm dead, dead and…
Anyway You Wanna This is what you do This is what you do This is…
Anyway You Wannta Monday, barely Monday Lumbering through the home Pretend I'm…
Baby Ain't You Shame What makes me treat you the way I do Gee,…
Baby Don't Cha Worry Sip my drink, you got your glass of wine But I…
Baby You Know You Ain't Right What makes me treat you the way I do Gee,…
Blowin' In The Wind I Just Watched My Savior …
Brainwasher Rose print underwear Curly curly blonde blonde hair Shine li…
Brainwasher Part 2 Tell me why you're crying now kini big deal When you…
Break Down And Sing And she roll that shit up And she break that shit…
Call On Me Do you remember those summer nights Sittin under the stars, …
Come See About Me I've been crying 'Cause I'm lonely (for you) Smiles have all…
Cos You Know Me We lost in translation I'm honestly runnin' out of patience …
Country Boy Hey, bitch from New York City With them fake California…
Country Girl I love me a good country girl Something about her But, you…
Dark Side Of The World She said she never really loved you Guess ya knew it…
Devil in the Bottle I come home late at night with my boots in…
Do I Love You Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
Do The Boomerang Now, you step to the left, baby You step to the…
Do You See My Love Oh, ooh, woo Bop, bop bi-a, bop, bop bi-a Woo, hoo, hoo,…
Don't Blame The Children Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Everybody Get Together Get together! どんな時も消えない あたりまえにここにある 溢れ出すパワー 感じてる絆 Believing …
Expressin' My Love Hello, my love How do you feel あなたのために今夜も眠れない 誰にこの身をささげよか そ…
Get Ready I never met a girl who makes me feel the…
Go Home Woo Woo-woo-woo Woo Woo-woo-woo You've been striking out ch…
Got To Be There Catch your breath from chasing after Happiness that dissapea…
Gotta Hold On To This Feeling The day without the shining sun Is a day without your…
Here Comes The Judge Here comes the heartache, the move out date Excuses for my…
Here Comes The Night Here comes the night, see the stars in the sky Shining…
Hewbie Steps Out (HOOK) I DONE SEEN SO McNY LEcVE ON SOMEBODY ELSES TERMS…
Hey Jude Hey Jude, don't make it bad Take a sad song and…
Hip City Hip City PT II …
Hip City Live Well, it's hard to live, it's hard to live in…
Hip City—Pt 1 Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's…
Hip City—Pt 2 Man I swear this shit is crazy But y'all know that…
Holly Holy Holly holy eyes Dream of only you Where I am, what I…
Home Cookin I need home, home cookin', yeah! I need home, home cookin',…
Home Cookin' I need home, home cookin', yeah! I need home, home cookin',…
Honey Come Back Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
How About You When a girl meets boy Life can be a joy But the…
How Sweet It Is How sweet it is to be loved by you How sweet…
How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You) How sweet it is to be loved by you [C…
How Sweet It Is Live How sweet it is to be loved by you How sweet…
How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You How sweet it is to be loved by you How sweet…
I Can't Get Next to You I, my, my, my, my Oh I, Can turn the gray sky…
I Couldn't Cry If I Wanted To cYE RIDIN' SOLO I'M ScVING SOULS TONIGHT IF SHE HIT ME…
I Found That Girl The girl that I marry will have to be As soft…
I Gotta Let You Go I wish I never let you go ,now that you…
I Just Called to Say I Love You Overjoyed Over time, I've been building my castle of love Ju…
I Love You Madly (はっと見りゃ湘南御母堂) 華やかな女が通る まぼろしの世界は 陽に灼けた少女のように 身も心も溶ける Every n…
I Love Your Smile Every time and place, on my night and day I need…
I Need You Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
I Need You Here Right Now When worlds collide Then drift away I will cling to…
I Want You ボロボロにされ 傷つけられ 帰る部屋も街もなくて どしゃぶりの雨の中 誰の事も信じられない 歌う唄も声もなくて 街中が歪…
I Want You Back When I had you to myself I didn't want you…
I'm A Road Runner Money, who needs it Let me live a life free and…
i'm losing you Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
I'm So Glad Hear that lonesome whippoorwill? He sounds too blue to fly. …
I'm Still Waiting I met her a month ago, down at the boogie…
If You Can Want I want you, I want you I want you any way…
Im A Road Runner Baby Money, who needs it Let me live a life free and…
In And Out Try to imagine What it must be like to live in…
Indiana Wants Me Now that we are friends I really do like your style You…
It Takes Two What does it take to win your love for me? How…
It's A Lonesome Road I've walked a million miles across this floor and a…
It's All In The Game Bus line down the centre line Took me from the dotted…
It's Alright Do What You Gotta Do Man, I can understand how it might be Kind of hard…
It's Too Late Stayed in bed all mornin' just to pass the time. There's…
Just Can't Get Enough There's crime in the city streets Always trouble in the midd…
Just The Way You Are Don't go changin' just to try to please me You never…
Keep On Lovin' Me I remember when it all began You couldn't keep your body Fro…
La La La La La 何するにせよ そっと耳元で語ろう 例えば言葉が無くても心は 不思議な期待などもてるこのごろ Let me try to …
Last Call We've been talking for a while And I think I like…
Let's Get It On I'm going beast mode in this bitch Ass droppin', Pill poppin…
Love 夜明けの街ですれ違うのは 月の残骸と昨日の僕さ 二度と戻れない境界を越えた後で 嗚呼 この胸は疼いてる 振り向くたびに…
Love Ain't Enough Listen to the rain a-fallin' Can't you hear that lonesome so…
Love Guess Who (Come on) Uh-uh (Ha-ha) Uh, well Baby Dove in the mix, what …
Love's Gone Bad There was a time I was feeling so hopeless, It's a…
Maria O Holy Night Divine, stars brightly shining Faith, suddenly …
mark anthony Today was a day for the mother to meet the…
Me And My Family My baby loves me, oh yeah My baby needs me,…
Money The best things in life are free But you can keep…
Moonlight In Vermont Pennies in a stream Falling leaves, a sycamore Moonlight in …
Mother You Smother You Mother I love you And I know that you love me…
My Baby Loves Me My baby loves me, oh yeah My baby needs me,…
My Cherie Amour La la la la la la, la la la la…
My Girl Friend of mine is a black suitcase and a frowny…
My Guy Nothing you could say could tear me away from my…
My Lonely World Welcome To My World Verse 1 : Zee Avi Can we go…
My Love Hello, my love How do you feel あなたのために今夜も眠れない 誰にこの身をささげよか そ…
My My My 俺と寝ろ我 雑踏に消えろ 舌の根を勃て舐めくわえろ 婦女食わんど知恵熱 飲ます精で ちと鼻炎 うなされど願う慕情 生ま…
Neither One Of Us Your hearts been playing tricks on you It's pulsing in and…
Never Can Say Goodbye I never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now Never…
No Greater Love I've had some trouble, I've felt much pain But through it…
Oh Be My Love Be my love, for no one else can end this…
One More Heartache You're back in town again spreadin' talk around That I'm sti…
Peace & Understanding I aint diggin what im seeing People dying cant believe it Yo…
Probe Your Mind If the wife and I are fussin', brother, that's alright 'Cau…
Promise Me Promise me you'll remember This love together today We may…
Pucker Up Buttercup Intro: [sax solo over chorus chords] Pucker up, Buttercup…
Right on Brother and Sisters Brothers need sisters, sisters need brothers All need the m…
Road Runner Money, who needs it Let me live a life free and…
Roadrunner Money, who needs it Let me live a life free and…
Running Back And Forth It’s The Chef Woah She coming back like she left something …
San-Ho-Zay Ho ho ho Ho ho ho Boughs of holly Got me feeling jolly Sayin…
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town I just came back from a lovely trip along the…
Save Me You fell out your mama's puss and I cried them…
Shake & Fingerpop Now, we're gonna rock you We're gonna roll, you With my so…
Shake And Fingerpop Said put on your wig, woman Were goin' out to…
Shake Me Wake Me Feeling my way through the darkness Guided by a beating hear…
Shoot Your Shot say, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah Yeah-yeah, shoot your shot What I m…
Shop Around When I became of age my mother called me to…
Shot Gun I said shotgun shoot 'em 'fore he run now do…
Skeletons I guess I've been bruised if we were to speak…
Something When an irresistible force Such as you Meets an old immova…
Something you got Something you got, baby Makes me work all day Something you …
Stand By Me When the night has come. And the land is dark, And the…
Standing In The Shadows Of Love Standing in the shadows of love Waiting for the heartaches t…
Still Water The moon hung high Tears slid down As cold as his heart As…
Stop! In the Name of Love One man come in the name of love, One man come…
Sylvia Down by the docks where the shadows play Sylvia Reef Morrow…
Take Me Girl, I'm Ready Take me as I am Someone you don't know Even in the…
Take Me I'm Ready Take me as I am My hands are glass, my heart…
Take This Heart Of Mine I remember the photo we took Cause you taped it in…
The Happening So its done, I'm tossed into an open world i…
These Eyes These eyes cry every night for you. These arms long to…
This Old Heart Of Mine I remember the photo we took Cause you taped it in…
Three Four Three Where she at? Where she at? (Awww) Where your friend go? Who…
Until You Come Back To Me Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
US I need you in my life I need you by my…
Walk In The Night walk in the night (repeated)…
Way Back Home Way Back Home 3:11 Trk…
What A Day What if I told you my whole blueprint Would you think…
What Does It Take What does it take (What does it take) To win your love…
What Does It Take (to Win Your Love) {35 seconds of sax intro} What does it take (What does it…
What Does It Take ? What does it take to win your love for me? How…
Where Did Our Love Go Baby, baby, baby don't leave me Ooh, please don't leave me…
Where Do We Go From Here Slowly but surely I've watched your love die now you run…
Where Were You Where were you When the rain came down Where were you that…
Who's Lovin' You 最終電車がもうすぐ 二人の距離を 果てしなくしてしまうよ その一歩踏み出したら 一体どれだけ離れてしまうの 愛してる 大…
With A Child's Heart Hey! Ahh, ohh, ohh Ahh, ohh, ohh Ohh, ohh As I close my e…
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life You are the sunshine of my life That's why I'll always…
You Haven't Done Nothin' We are amazed but not amused By all the things you…
You Keep Me Hangin' On I feel unwanted I feel neglected I'm feeling famished due to…
You Will Know You got your mamas eyes and your daddy's cock In a…
You're All I Need To Get By [Chorus] You're all I need, every breath you breathe through…
You're On Fire It's the quiet storm I'm Doc Wynter You should leave this…
You're The Loser Now Oh, all the battles that I've won They don't matter now…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Jr. Walker:
Back Street Boogie Yall know my body I don't even know why yall playing…
Darling Come Back Home You want to go away Say you want to leave today What…
Don't Let Me Go Astray I’m so sorry For everything I did (For everything I did) I…
Everything Good To You I believe in you I believe in you I believe everything every…
Gotta Hold On To This Feeling The day without the shining sun Is a day without your…
Hole In The Wall Yeah, my bucket's got a hole in it Yeah, my bucket's…
How Sweet It Is How sweet it is to be loved by you How sweet…
My Love Excuse me Know your tired of excuses You've been tryna get m…
Pucker up buttercup Pucker up, buttercup I wanna kiss you one time Pucker up, bu…
Road Runner Money, who needs it Let me live a life free and…
Shake and Fingerpop Said put on your wig, woman Were goin' out to…
Shoot Your Shot I say, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, shoot your shot,…
What Does It Take What does it take to win your love for me? How…
Wishing on A Star Wishing on a star Anybody can Everybody has Since the world …
You Can Run But You Can't Hide Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The All Stars:
Blue Skies Blue skies smilin' at me Nothin' but blues skies do I…
Blue Turning Grey Over You Gee, how I miss Your tender kiss, And the wonderful things w…
Body and Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
C Jam Blues Baby, take me down to Duke's place Wildest box in town…
Do Whatca Do Tell me what not to do I just wanna be good…
Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans And…
Down in the Boots Way down yonder in New Orleans In the land of the…
Ev'rything I've Got I've got you under my skin. I've got you deep in…
Get out of Town The farce was ended, The curtains drawn, And I at least pret…
Guitar Man Everyone wants to play Oh, oh, the guitar man Strummin' the …
How Sweet It Is How sweet it is to be loved by you How sweet…
I Ain't Know When you climb to the top Of the mountain Look out over…
I Am on Top I am your singer 僕の生きがいは 数えきれないその笑顔 「愛の詩」も「魂の声」も あなたがくれた プレゼ…
I got rhythm Chillun', listen here to me This is my philosophy To see me…
Oh Lady Be Good Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
On My Mind 夜毎 彼女の telephone number 涙ながらに問いかける 飲み過ぎて君をからかいがちに いきなり抱きすくめた…
Once in a While Once in a while will you try to give One little…
Out of This World If this world were mine, I'd place at your feet All…
Rose Room I want to take you to a little room A little…
Shotgun I said shotgun shoot 'em 'fore he run now do…
Swing Low Sweet Chariot I looked over Jordan and what did I see? Comin' for…
The Man I Love (はっと見りゃ湘南御母堂) 華やかな女が通る まぼろしの世界は 陽に灼けた少女のように 身も心も溶ける Every n…
They Got to Come Well they tell me I'm a pie up in the…
Tin Roof Blues Yes, a New Orleans woman She's alright with me I said New…
V'sechzena 裸の人間同士で行こうな 夢見る少年同士でいような 互いに yummy yummy yummy 寂しん boys 愛する女…
What Does It Take What does it take to win your love for me? How…
When It’s Sleepy Time Down South Homesick tired All alone in a big city Why should…
Whispering Whispering while you cuddle near me Whispering so no one can…