Jr. Walker & The All Stars
Iconic Motown sax master and soul pioneer (1931–1995)
Born Autry DeWalt Mixon Jr. on June 14, 1931, in Blytheville, Arkansas, Jr. Walker grew up in South Bend, Indiana. He took up the tenor saxophone and formed early groups before signing with Motown's Soul label in the mid-1960s as Jr. Walker & the All Stars. His raw, energetic style—honking sax and gritty vocals—set him apart from Motown's smoother acts.
Classic group shot of Jr. Walker & the All Stars (1960s Motown era)
- Jr. Walker – Lead vocals & tenor saxophone
- Willie Woods – Guitar
- Victor Thomas – Keyboards
- James "Jimmy" Graves – Drums
Posed group portrait with Jr. Walker (sax), Victor Thomas, Willie Woods, and James Graves
His breakthrough came with the 1965 dance-floor smash "Shotgun" (#1 R&B, Top 5 Pop). Other big ones include:
- "Shake and Fingerpop" (1965)
- "Do the Boomerang" (1965)
- "(I'm a) Road Runner" (1966)
- "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" (1969 – Top 5 Pop)
Iconic "Shotgun" album cover (1965)
Jr. Walker's gritty sax influenced funk and soul. He guested on Foreigner's "Urgent" (1981) and performed until the 1990s. He passed away from cancer in 1995. "Shotgun" is in the Grammy Hall of Fame and celebrated in rock/soul history.
Jr. Walker in full passionate sax mode (Motown session vibe)