Thinking about Junior Walker & The All Stars takes us back to the swinging sixties and the Motown sound. Superlatives like legendary, unique and superb immediately spring to mind, and Junior Walker is fondly remembered for his unmistakable individual sound, and electric live performances.

Junior Walker was the consumate showman and The All Stars had to maintain the furious pace set by their energetic, and enthusiastic front man. Invariably, Walker would end his shows laying flat on his back, drenched in sweat, blasting away on his tenor saxaphone to the delight of his audience.

Born Autrey De Walt Mixon in Blythesville, Arkansas on June 14th 1931, Junior Walker grew up in South Bend Indiana where he took up the saxaphone in high school. Motown publicised Walker's date of birth incorrectly as 1942.

As a teenager, he formed his first band – The Jumping Jacks and was soon playing in Jazz and R&B clubs. He later joined a trio led by Billy ‘Stix’ Nicks, together with organist Fred Paton and vocalist/guitarist Willie Woods. At this point he changed his name to Junior Walker which was his childhood nickname.

Billy Nicks joined the army in the late fifties, and Walker relocated to Battle Creek, Michigan where he formed Junior Walker & The All Stars. The group then consisted of Junior Walker, Fred Paton, Willie Woods and newly found drummer, Tony Washington. A few further personnel changes and the All Stars eventually consisted of Victor Thomas on organ / keyboards, James Graves on drums, with Willie Woods remaining on guitar.