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
What Does It Take
Junior Walker & The All Stars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can I make this dream come true for me?
Oh, I just got to know,
Oh, baby, 'cause I love you so,
Gonna blow for you
I've tried, I've tried, I've tried,
I've tried in every way
Oh, I thought you understood
So you gotta make me see,
What does it take to win your love for me?
The song "What Does It Take" by Junior Walker & the All-Stars is a soulful ballad about a man who is desperate to win the love of a woman he deeply cares for. The song begins with the man questioning what it takes to win her love, asking how he can make his dream come true. He emphasizes his love for her and how much he wants to be with her in the chorus, saying he'll do anything for her.
The second verse has the man expressing his desperation, saying he's tried everything he can to show her how much he loves her, but she still doesn't seem to understand. He pleads with her to show him what it takes to win her heart. The song is a heartfelt plea for love and a yearning to be with someone who seems just out of reach.
The lyrics are enhanced by Junior Walker's deep, soulful voice and soulful saxophone playing. The saxophone serves as the perfect accompaniment to the song's theme, adding a layer of emotion that resonates deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
What does it take to win your love for me?
What actions or efforts do I need to make to earn your love and affection?
How can I make this dream come true for me?
What steps do I need to take to fulfill my desire of being with you?
Oh, I just got to know,
I need to find answers to my questions and clear up any confusion I may have.
Oh, baby, 'cause I love you so,
My love for you is so immense, and I'm saying this with utmost sincerity.
Gonna blow for you
I'll blow my horn (a reference to the saxophone) as a symbol of my love for you.
I've tried, I've tried, I've tried,
I've put in a lot of effort and given my best shot at winning your love.
I've tried in every way
I've explored every possible avenue to make you realize my love for you.
I could to make you see how much I love you
I have done everything in my power to make you understand the depth of my feelings for you.
Oh, I thought you understood
I was under the impression that you already knew how much you mean to me.
So you gotta make me see,
Please help me understand what else I need to do to win your love.
What does it take to win your love for me?
What more do I need to do to earn your love and affection?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HARVEY FUQUA, JOHNNY BRISTOL, JOHNNY WILLIAM BRISTOL, VERNON BULLOCK
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
👍👍