Junior Walker and The All Stars - Road Runner
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- Опубліковано 13 сер 2011
- Motown's skilled but mostly anonymous instrumentalists very rarely stepped out on their own. The lone exception to the rule was tenor saxman Junior Walker, whose rough-and-ready, old-school R&B was a marked contrast with the label's typically smooth, polished product. Walker's squealing gutbucket style was inspired by jump blues and early R&B, particularly players like Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic, and Illinois Jacquet. Possessed of a raspy, untrained voice, Walker's singing nonetheless complemented the energy of his sax playing, and he cut a wealth of danceable, party hearty R&B for Motown during his heyday in the second half of the '60s.
Walker was born Autry DeWalt II on June 14, 1931 (even though Motown gave his birth date as 1942), in Blytheville, AR. (Some accounts list his birth name as Oscar G. Mixon, which was then changed at some point during his early childhood.) DeWalt grew up in South Bend, IN, and began playing the saxophone in high school; he was soon performing in local jazz and R&B clubs with his first band, the Jumping Jacks, under the name 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; in the late '50s, he 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. There they were discovered by singer Johnny Bristol, who recommended them to his friend, ex-Moonglow Harvey Fuqua. Fuqua signed the group to his Harvey label in 1961; they made their first recordings in 1962, and the following year Fuqua's labels were absorbed by Motown.
Walker & the All-Stars ended up on their Soul subsidiary, debuting for the label in 1964. In early 1965, they scored their first big hit with the dance tune "Shotgun," which marked Walker'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 the pop Top Five. A steady stream of mostly instrumental R&B chart hits followed, including "Do the Boomerang," "Shake and Fingerpop," and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" (Walker was, naturally, encouraged to record instrumental versions of Motown hits). In 1966, Graves left and was replaced by old cohort Billy "Stix" Nicks, and Walker's hits continued apace with tunes like "I'm a Road Runner" and "Pucker Up Buttercup." 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, with the last coming in 1972.
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 in 1979, signing with producer Norman Whitfield's Whitfield label, though without much success. Walker returned to the spotlight in 1981 with a well-publicized (and well-executed) guest solo on Foreigner's Top Five hit "Urgent." Two years later, he re-signed with Motown and recorded Blow the House Down; by that time, his melodic style was being absorbed into a new generation of R&B-flavored jazz instrumentalists. Walker continued to tour through the '80s and '90s, sometimes with his son Autry DeWalt III playing drums. Unfortunately, in 1993 his activities were severely curtailed by cancer, which claimed his life on November 23, 1995. In the wake of his death, Billy "Stix" Nicks continued to tour with a version of the All-Stars. ~ Steve Huey, All Music
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![[I'm A] Road Runner](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6wisuCBGvB4/mqdefault.jpg)
Test drive unlimited brought me here years ago to hear this timeless classic from a legeng
my fav for the Jr....nothing like Motown jams!!
I'm sitting here in 2021, amazed at the purity of his music.. timeless!
I first heard this back in 1966, when I was in the U S Army. I was on pass, driving in Washington D C, when the song came on the radio. It blew me away! I pulled into a parking lot to listen. Became an instant Jr Walker fan. Roadrunner has been my favorite of his songs ever since. :)
That baritone sax knocks me out every time...
legends like jnr.walker will live on forever.....
I still love myself some Junior Walker & the All-Stars they are good no matter what somebody out there knows what I'm talkin about amen
Jr. Walker at his best....cooooool!
marvellous...all time great. epic.
I remember this tune from the 60's in the UK, the dance floor would be empty then "Road Runner" would start to play and within seconds it would be full, oh happy day's, many thanks for this
It was a great dance tune! Roadrunner, Shotgun, Shake a Tail Feather...
@@John1948SevenD It was Shake and Finger Pop. Shake a Tail Feather was Ike and Tina
I read that someone else had been hired to sing lead on this tune but for whatever reason didn't show up for the recording session.
If that is true, I would like to thank that singer who didn't show up.
Junior stepped up to the mic and nailed it!!
1965 Scene Club London Music such as Jr Walker gave me an idea and he helped my success as a DJ for 20 years.
One of he best song remember from junior high school!
.... ONLY THE B E S T LEAVE US MUCH TOO SOON ... REGARDS FROM NORTHERN IRELAND ... GOD BLESS ...
Regards from a Bangor man!
that's the jam I grew up on
The best!
so good !
This song reminds me of the fun I used to have in my poor man's Ferrari nissan 300 zx twin turbo a seriously hot ship, uprated turbos, no cats, blitz management system all for less than 3 grand. A real bmw humiliator. I remember an m3 coming alongside trying to show off, to a doll on his passenger side, until I gave her a smIle, she smiled back I gave her a wave and said goodnight to both as I cruised away effortlessly in the nissan what a car and roadrunner on the stereo, glory days
Great story! In my mind, a Detroit muscle car would be great for this song.
Great track. Dontcha love that drum roll starting things off? Classic Motown intro. Jr. Walker was fantastic on that sax, and a very good singer.
Madeleine Hague I'm glad you pointed that out! Reminds me of the drum intro to Ain't Too Proud to Beg.
Back in the day!!!!
I love this music. The kind you can boogie down to. I was born in the wrong generation.
Not to fret, Paul Weller does an ace cover of this one in his "Saturn's Pattern" CD
James Taylor does a good cover of it, too. Live performance here on UA-cam at "James Taylor, Road Runner"
Thanks Dad!
Released March 1966 on Motown's Soul Records Label as Soul 35015
" Got To Keep On Keepin On , Cuz I'm A Road runner, Baby !! " Words to be placed on my gravestone! Wolfsky9, 68 y/o
Standout track!!
Humble Pie did a slowed down bluesy cover of this of their album Smokin;.
Twisted wheel.
Plus drimnamyl equals ecstas
💕💕💕💕💕
They called me Lil Bit, Shorty, & this. Enjoy & be safe
Belter