The members of the band changed after the acquisition of the Harvey label. The drummer, Tony Washington quit the group, and James Graves followed the group into the Motown family. Their first and signature hit was "Shotgun", written by Junior Walker and produced by Berry Gordy. "Shotgun" reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, aka as 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 tracks, "Come See About Me" and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)". In 1966, Graves left and was replaced by old cohort Billy "Stix" Nicks, and Walker's hits continued apace with tunes like "I'm a Road Runner" and "Pucker Up Buttercup."[1]
In 1969 the group had another hit enter the top 5, "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)?".[1] A Motown quality control meeting rejected this song for single release but radio station DJs made the track popular, forcing Motown to release it as a single, whereupon it 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. He landed several more R&B Top Ten hits over the next few years, with the last coming in 1972.[1]
In 1979, Junior Walker went solo and was signed to Norman Whitfield's Whitfield Records label.[1] He was not as successful as he had been with the All Stars in his Motown period. Walker also played the sax on the group Foreigner's "Urgent" in 1981.[1] 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.[1] He died on November 23, 1995 in Battle Creek, Michigan of cancer at the age of 64.[1] He had been inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation that year. Drummer James Graves died in 1967 in a car accident, and guitarist Willie Woods in 1997 at age 60.
Jr. Walker's All Star Band is currently touring around the world with with original members Tony Washington and Acklee King.
Walker's "Shotgun" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.
Glow
Jr Walker & The All Stars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It must have been moonglow that led me straight to you
I still hear you sayin', "Dear one, hold me fast"
And I keep on prayin', "Oh Lord, please let this last"
We seemed to float right through the air
Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere
I'll always remember, that moonglow gave me you
It must have been moonglow, way up in the blue
It must have been moonglow that led me straight to you
I still hear you sayin', "Sweet child, hold me fast"
And I keep on prayin', "Oh Lord, please let this last"
We seemed to float right through the air
Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere
And now when there's moonglow, way up in the blue
I'll always remember, that moonglow gave me you
The lyrics to Jr Walker & The All Stars' song "Glow" convey a sense of awe and wonder at the power of love and the influence of the moon. The reference to "moonglow" in the lyrics suggests a romantic, enchanting atmosphere that brought the singer and their loved one together. It is portrayed as a celestial force that guided them towards each other.
The opening lines, "It must have been moonglow, way up in the blue / It must have been moonglow that led me straight to you," imply that the singer believes their meeting was not a mere coincidence but rather the result of a higher, otherworldly influence. The moonglow acts as a metaphor for the magical and mysterious aspects of love, creating an ethereal connection between the two individuals.
The next lines, "I still hear you sayin', 'Dear one, hold me fast' / And I keep on prayin', 'Oh Lord, please let this last'," express the intense emotions and longing for the relationship to endure. The singer recalls their loved one's plea to stay close and expresses their own desire for the love to continue. There is a sense of vulnerability and a recognition of the fragility of love, as the singer seeks divine intervention to ensure its longevity.
The following lines, "We seemed to float right through the air / Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere," further emphasize the dreamlike quality of their connection. The couple appears to be in a state of transcendence, feeling as if they are weightless and surrounded by music that enthralled them. The lyrics evoke a profound sense of joy and spiritual fulfillment.
Finally, the closing lines, "And now when there's moonglow, way up in the blue / I'll always remember, that moonglow gave me you," suggest that the singer will forever associate the moonglow with the love they found. It becomes a symbol of their profound connection and the momentous impact it had on their lives. The moonglow becomes a powerful symbol of their love, acting as a reminder of the magical forces that brought them together.
Line by Line Meaning
It must have been moonglow, way up in the blue
The singer believes that the presence of moonglow in the sky above guided them towards a particular destination.
It must have been moonglow that led me straight to you
The singer attributes their encounter with the listener to the guiding influence of moonglow.
I still hear you sayin', "Dear one, hold me fast"
The singer can vividly recall the listener expressing a desire to be held tightly and protected.
And I keep on prayin', "Oh Lord, please let this last"
The artist continues to beseech a higher power, hoping that their current state of happiness and connection with the listener will endure.
We seemed to float right through the air
The artist describes a sensation of weightlessness and ease as they were in each other's presence.
Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere
The singer metaphorically perceives an abundance of joy and harmonious experiences surrounding their relationship.
And now when there's moonglow, way up in the blue
Presently, whenever the singer witnesses moonglow high in the sky, they are reminded of their connection with the listener.
I'll always remember, that moonglow gave me you
The artist expresses a lasting gratitude towards moonglow for leading them to the listener, implying that their relationship is treasured and significant.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Eddie Delange, Irving Mills, Will Hudson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brodocbetty4856
No matter how many times I hear this that Intro is a killer.
@puffinbilly6826
..oh,yeah,it's like a time machine...!
@bkristensen9363
Love junior Walker he inspires us all to enjoy music
@eloisewarren9908
@@puffinbilly6826 love this one my favorite ❤!!!
@gladysjones5402
Yup😊
@lindav.johnson9523
It absolutely is!!!
@EarthWindandFirepower0990
IF YOU WERE ACTUALLY ALIVE WHEN THIS SONG FIRST CAME OUT LIKE I WAS,GO AHEAD AND SMASH THE THUMBS UP ICON.
@stevenmyhre2242
Ya bro
@jayChappelear
yes, 11 years@@stevenmyhre2242
@lisamatthews4986
👍👍