Acklee King
PHOTO: With original member Acklee King (L) Mark Sonder (C) and Ronnie Nelson, music director (R)
Walker re-formed the All Stars in the 1980s. Foreigner’s 1981 album 4 featured Walker’s blistering sax solo on “Urgent”. On April 11, 1981, Walker was the musical guest on the season finale of Saturday Night Live. He later recorded his own version of the Foreigner’s tune.
Junior Walker died of cancer at the age of 64, in Battle Creek, Michigan, on November 23, 1995. He had been inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation that year. Junior Walker is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, in Battle Creek, Michigan, under a marker inscribed with both his birth name of Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr., and his stage name. Walker’s “Shotgun” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.ong for the 1983 All Stars’s album Blow the House Down. Walker’s version was also featured in the 1985 Madonna film Desperately Seeking Susan. In 1983, Walker was re-signed with Motown. 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.
op Tunes of Jr. Walker’s Allstar Band:
- Shotgun
- How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
- I Ain’t Going Nowhere
- What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)
- (I’m A) Roadrunner
- Cleo’s Mood
- Shake and Fingerpop
- These Eyes
- Gotta Hold On To This Feeling
- Plus a Motown Revue, including The Supremes, The Marvelettes, Martha & The Vandellas, etc.
The ‘Ultimate Motown Party Band’ known worldwide as Jr. Walker’s All-Star Band.