Junior Walker

Walker was born Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr. on June 14, 1931, in Blytheville, Arkansas, but grew up in South Bend, Indiana. He began playing saxophone while in high school, and his saxophone style was the anchor for the sound of the bands he later played in. ==Career==

His career started when he developed his own band in the mid-1950s as the Jumping Jacks. written and composed by Walker and produced by Berry Gordy, which featured the Funk Brothers' James Jamerson on bass and Benny Benjamin on drums. "Shotgun" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 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 remakes of two Motown songs "Come See About Me" and "How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)", that had previously been hits for the Supremes and Marvin Gaye respectively. Walker's version was also featured in the 1985 Madonna film Desperately Seeking Susan. In 1983, Walker was re-signed with Motown. In the same year, he appeared as a part of the Motown 25 television special which aired on May 16, 1983. In 1988, Walker played opposite Sam Moore as one-half of the fictional soul duo The Swanky Modes in the comedy Tapeheads. Several songs were recorded for the soundtrack, including "Bet Your Bottom Dollar" and "Ordinary Man", produced by ex-Blondie member Nigel Harrison. ==Death==

Walker died of cancer at the age of 64 in Battle Creek, Michigan, on November 23, 1995. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek under a marker inscribed with both his birth name of Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr. and his stage name. ==Awards and honors==

Junior Walker & the All Stars received three Grammy Award nominations: • "Shotgun" - Best Rhythm and Blues Recording (1965) • "What Does It Take" - Best R&B Instrumental Performance (1969) • "Wishing on a Star" - Best R&B Instrumental Performance (1979) He was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1995. Walker's "Shotgun" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. Jr. Walker & the All Stars were voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2007. ==Discography==

Studio albums Live albums Compilation albums Singles ==See also==