Jr. Walker & The All Stars

Junior Walker & the All Stars was an R&B and soul band best known for their hit singles “Shotgun” (1965), “(I’m a) Road Runner” (1966), and “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” (1969). Led by tenor saxophonist and vocalist Junior Walker – born Autry DeWalt Mixon on June 14, 1931 in Blytheville, Arkansas – the band’s origins began in the mid-1950s when Junior Walker dismantled his band the Jumping Jacks and joined his friend Billy Nicks’ group the Rhythm Rockers. After several line-up changes and a move to Battle Creek, Michigan, the band was discovered by Johnny Bristol and signed to Harvey Records in 1961. They then changed the band name to Junior Walker’s All Stars. After releasing singles in 1962 and 1963, the Harvey label was bought by Motown’s Berry Gordy. Changing their name again to Junior Walker & the All Stars, the band began releasing singles on the Motown subsidiary, Soul Records. In 1965, they released the single “Shotgun”, which reached Number 1 on Billboards R&B singles chart and Number 4 on the Hot 100. A few singles later, they scored another sizable hit with “(I’m a) Road Runner” (1966), which also hit Number 4 on the R&B Singles chart. The 1966 single “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” reached Number 3 on the same chart. While their next six singles did respectable business, “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” (1969) was another enormous hit, matching “Shotgun’s” chart success (Number 4/Hot 100, Number 1/R&B Singles). Junior Walker & the All Stars had a few more Top 10 R&B singles but as the 1970s rolled on, their chart success was more infrequent due to the ever-changing musical landscape and the popularity of funk, disco and other new genres. In 1979, Junior Walker split up the All Stars and pursued a solo career. He did reform the All Stars briefly in 1983 but spent the rest of his career as a solo artist. Junior Walker died on November 23, 1995 at the age of 64.