Jr. Walker & The All Stars Members: Jr. Walker on the saxophone, Victor Thomas on organ, WIllie Woods on drums, and James Graves on guitar.
Jr. Walker and the All Stars are easily one of the most interesting and entertaining acts to come out of Motown, showcasing their unique skill and musical personality. In this post, we will look into the group’s background, the individuals who came together to make the group, and briefly examine their musical legacy.
Making The Band
Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr., better known as Jr. Walker, had previously created a band of his own called the Jumping Jacks, which performed frequently in local clubs. He went on to join a trio led by his friend Billy “Stix” Nicks and included Fred Patton, who played the organ. Eventually, Willie Woods, who played guitar and offered backing vocals, was added to the group. Additional members included drummer Tony Washington, who Jack Douglas later replaced, followed by James Graves, who replaced Douglas, and Victor Thomas, who replaced Fred Patton. Billy Nicks wound up being drafted into the army, leading to Jr. Walker taking over leadership of the group.
After taking over, he moved the group to Battle Creek, Michigan, and added more members – this was when the group’s name was changed to Junior Walker & The All-Stars, and they started to perform regularly at El Grotto club in addition to other gigs locally. At this club, Johnny Bristol discovered the group and told his friend, singer Harvey Fuqua, about them, and Fuqua went on to sign the group to his label in 1961.
In 1963, the label was absorbed by Motown Records, and the group, whose name had then been changed to Jr. Walker & The All Stars, became a part of Motown’s Soul imprint. The group immediately got to work, producing their hit song “Shotgun” in 1965.
The Story Behind “Shotgun”
The background story of the song “Shotgun” is quite interesting. It’s said that the group was playing at a show in Battle Creek when Jr. Walker saw some teenagers doing a dance he was unfamiliar with. The teens told him that the dance was called “the shotgun.” Once the show ended, he got with the rest of the band and wrote the song.
Fun Fact: the gunfire that can be heard at the beginning of the song(you can hear it in the video above) actually was created by Grenada, Mississippi, musician Eddie “Chank” Willis and wasn’t gunfire at all – it was the echoed and compressed version of the sound created when Willis accidentally kicked his guitar amplifier!
Another interesting tidbit about “Shotgun” is that Jr. Walker wasn’t supposed to sing the song. A vocalist was hired to meet the group at the studio and sing, but the person was a no-show. Berry Gordy didn’t want the session to go to waste, so he asked Jr. Walker to sing the lead. Though hesitant, he gave in and laid down his vocals. At first, the label planned to go back later and have a singer dub over Walker’s vocals, but Gordy decided to keep Walker’s vocals instead. The song hit number 1 on the U.S. R&B Singles chart for four non-consecutive weeks and reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also reached number 26 in Canada. In 2002, Jr. Walker and the All Star’s version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Group Changes & Breakup
As the 1960s ended, changes occurred within the band and in the music scene.
The group’s drummer, James Graves’ departure led to Billy “Stix” Nicks re-joining the group. Nonetheless, the group continued to see success, releasing songs like “I’m a Road Runner” and “Pucker Up Buttercup.” They also released songs like “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” to showcase a different sound. However, the 1970s would see the emergence of styles like funk and disco, which were different from their signature style.
The group carried on until 1979, when Walker decided to explore a solo career, disbanding the original All Stars. However, in the 1980s, Walker re-formed the All Stars back and played with the group until his death in 1995. After Jr. Walker’s death, Billy “Stix” Nicks took leadership and continued playing with the group.
The Impact & Legacy of Jr. Walker and the All Stars
Jr. Walker and the All Stars created successful, danceable hits and brought something unique and fresh to Motown. Instead of the buttoned-up, stylistic sounds of the time, the group brought a rugged mix of blues, R&B, and soul. Their music has gone on to be featured in films, produce inspiration for samples, and influence other blues, R&B, soul, rock, and jazz musicians worldwide.
Their run may not have been as long as some of the other artists and groups produced by Motown, but it’s undeniable that they left their mark. Their music and passion will inspire musicians to come and continue to make listeners get on their feet when they hear the group’s classic sound – a guaranteed indicator of a strong, lasting legacy.
Sources:
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/junior-walker-mn0000304284#biography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Walker
https://www.motownmuseum.org/artist/jr-walker-and-the-all-stars/
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