Junior Walker (born Autry DeWalt, Jr., June 14, 1931 – November 23, 1995) &… Read Full Bio ↴Junior Walker (born Autry DeWalt, 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.

Junior Walker was born Autry DeWalt Jr. in Blytheville, Arkansas in 1942. Some accounts list his birth name as Oscar G. Mixon, and say his name was changed at some point during his early childhood. He grew up in South Bend, Indiana where he became a proficient saxophone player, studying the methods of some of the prominent sax players of the time. During his teens, DeWalt joined a group called the Jumping Jacks and began to perform in local clubs, calling himself Junior Walker.

He next joined a trio led by drummer Billy "Stix" Nicks, which also featured organist Fred Patton. They soon added backing vocalist and guitarist Willie Woods, and played around northern Indiana and southern Michigan. Walker took over the group after Nicks joined the Army and in the late '50s, relocated to Battle Creek, MI, and formed a band billed as Junior Walker & the All-Stars. Initially, they featured Patton, Woods, and drummer Tony Washington. Patton was later replaced by Victor Thomas, and Washington by Jack Douglas and, finally, James Graves. The All-Stars continued to play around the area, and took up a residency in Battle Creek's El Grotto club.

It was at the El Grotto that they were noticed by Johnny Bristol, who recommended them to Harvey Fuqua, who had sang with Harvey and the Moonglows. By this time, Fuqua was running his own fledgling record label called simply "Harvey". Fuqua liked what he heard and signed Junior Walker and the All Stars in 1962.

The Harvey label was soon bought out by Motown, and the group found itself recording with Soul Records. Soul was a subsidiary of Motown and all of the group's subsequent hits in the US were released on the Soul label, although they had some Tamla/Motown hits on the charts in the UK.

In early 1965, the band scored their first big hit with a dance tune that Walker had written called "Shotgun", which marked Junior's vocal debut. In fact, the only reason he sang the song was that the vocalist he'd hired didn't show up for the session, and he was somewhat flabbergasted by the label's decision to leave his vocal intact. Berry Gordy's instincts proved right, however, when "Shotgun" topped the R&B charts and hit number four on the Pop chart.

In 1966, Graves left and was replaced by old friend Billy "Stix" Nicks. Walker's hits continued with tunes like "I'm a Road Runner" (#20 Pop) and "Pucker Up Buttercup". (#3 Pop) Toward the end of the '60s, seeking to diversify their approach, the All-Stars began recording more ballad material, complete with string arrangements and Walker vocals. That approach resulted in the group's second Top Five pop hit, the R&B number one "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" which helped refuel Walker's career. He landed several more R&B Top Ten hits over the next few years, including a cover of The Guess Who's "These Eyes", which went to number 16 on the Pop chart. Musical tastes changed in the 70's and the final top forty hit for Junior Walker and the All Stars was "Do You See My Love (For You Growing)" in 1970.

Walker resurfaced as a solo artist during the disco era, working with producer Brian Holland beginning in 1976 with the single "Hot Shot". A pair of albums followed. In 1979, Walker joined up with another former Motown mainstay, signing with producer Norman Whitfield's Whitfield label, though without much success.

Walker returned to the spotlight in 1981 with a guest solo on Foreigner's Top Five hit "Urgent". Two years later, he re-signed with Motown and recorded "Blow the House Down". His melodic style was now being absorbed into a new generation of R&B-flavoured jazz instrumentalists.

Junior continued to perform in the 80's and 90's, often with his son Autry DeWalt III on drums. Sadly, Junior Walker developed cancer in 1993 and as his health deteriorated, he had difficulty walking. He died on November 23, 1995 in Battle Creek, Michigan at age 53.

In the wake of his death, Billy "Stix" Nicks continued to tour with a version of the All-Stars.

http://www.classicbands.com/jrwalker.html

Hard Love
Junior Walker & The All Stars Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Hard Love' by these artists:

B-Linq Great Back and forth arguments You don't know how hard it is…
Bob Franke I remember growing up like it was only yesterday Mom &…
Burs Then the light starts showing In the back of my eyes All…
Ellie Drennan I take it all back I was just kinda lost in…
J.J. Cale Shirley down the street she gets so lonesome She calls aroun…
Jeff Pianki Looking back I felt a false sense of safety Almost as…
Julietta I'm on my HBO Still waiting for the phone to ring I…
June Tabor I remember growing up like it was only yesterday, Mom and…
NEEDTOBREATHE Trading punches with the heart of darkness Going to blows wi…

NEEDTOBREATHE feat. Andra Day Trading punches with the heart of darkness Going to blows wi…
NEEDTOBREATHE feat. Lauren Daigle Trading punches with the heart of darkness Going to blows wi…
Sunshine Anderson What you know about Falling for it Do you know your family…
The Muggs Every time you left me guessin', you had an answer…
Tony Rice Well, I remember growing up like it was only yesterday Mom…
Vika & Linda I don't want a love Changing like the wind You know I…
Vika and Linda Bull I don't want a love Changing like the wind You know I…
Walter Egan When I laid eyes on you, I was already persuaded Just…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Junior Walker & The All Stars:

Ain't That The Truth Hey man, what's wrong with you Hey man... play some blues! Y…
Alabama Moonlight and magnolia, starlight in your hair All the world…
Break it Up The world finna know Mike Jones mann Mike Jones! (Mike Jones…
Come See About Me I've been crying 'Cause I'm lonely (for you) Smiles have all…
Crazy All aboard Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Ay, ay,…
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…
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',…
Honey Come Back Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
How Sweet It Is How sweet it is to be loved by you How sweet…
Mercy Mercy Me Dah, dah, dah, dah Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah Dah,…
Money The best things in life are free But you can keep…
My Guy Nothing you could say could tear me away from my…
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…
Pucker Up Buttercup Intro: [sax solo over chorus chords] Pucker up, Butt…
Revolution It's a desperate situation When your world it falls apart We…
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…
Shake And Fingerpop Said put on your wig, woman Were goin' out to…
Shoot Your Shot say, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah Yeah-yeah, shoot your shot What I m…
Shotgun I said shotgun shoot 'em 'fore he run now do…
These Eyes These eyes cry every night for you. These arms long to…
Three Four Three Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand Put…
Us Intro: Tell you about Black Man supremacy. Ises Rastafari! …
Walk In The Night walk in the night (repeated)…
Way Back Home Oh, there's good 'n bad things About the South, boy Oh, and…
What Does It Take What does it take to win your love for me? How…
What Does It Take ? What does it take to win your love for me? How…
You Are the Sunshine of My Life You are the sunshine of my life That's why I'll always…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Junior Walker:

Ain't That The Truth Hey man, what's wrong with you Hey man... play some blues! …
Come See About Me I've been crying 'Cause I'm lonely (for you) Smiles have all…
Do The Boomerang Now, you step to the left, baby You step to the…
Hip City Hip City PT II …
Home Cookin' I need home, home cookin', yeah! I need home, home cookin',…
Homecookin' I need home, home cookin', yeah! I need home, home cookin',…
How Sweet It Is How sweet it is to be loved by you How sweet…
I Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
Money The best things in life are free But you can keep…
Pucker Up Buttercup Intro: [sax solo over chorus chords] Pucker up, Butt…
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 say, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah Yeah-yeah, shoot your shot What I m…
Shotgun I said shotgun shoot 'em 'fore he run now do…
Take Me Girl I'm Ready Take me Take me girl I'm ready Oh please oh please Please do…
Walk In The Night walk in the night (repeated)…
What Does It Take What does it take to win your love for me? How…

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 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 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…
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…
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…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

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