John Mayon Walker
b. June 27th, 1927 in Stoneville (Mississippi)
d. November 27th, 1999 in Chicago (Illinois)
WEST COAST BLUES
Kent
IKE TURNER & HIS KINGS OF RHYTHM vol.2
Ace
IKE TURNER ROCKS THE BLUES
P-Vine
November 1955
Né d'une mère Cherokee, John apprend différents instruments mais se concentre surtout sur le piano. Il démarre sa carrière vers 1947 et joue derrière de nombreux bluesmen. Actif aussi bien en Californie, à Chicago que dans son Mississippi natif, il participe quelques temps à la célèbre émission radiophonique "King Biscuit Time" avec Joe Willie Wilkins et "Sonny Boy" Williamson. Entre 1952 et 1955, John est enrôlé dans l'armée et prend part à la guerre de Corée. C'est à son retour sur le sol américain qu'il trouve l'opportunité de graver ses premiers morceaux en leader pour le label Kent des frères Bihari. Quatre excellents titres dans lesquels John est accompagné d'Ike Turner (également producteur) : "J.W.'s blues", "Sitting here wondering", "Can't see you baby" et "Why won't you be true". Malheureusement ces morceaux demeurèrent longtemps inédits. Deux furent publiés en 1970, un autre en 1985, le quatrième et dernier en 1993.
Born to a Cherokee mother, John learned various instruments, but concentrated mainly on piano. He began his career around 1947, playing behind many bluesmen. Active in California, Chicago and his native Mississippi, he spent some time on the famous radio program “King Biscuit Time” with Joe Willie Wilkins and "Sonny Boy" Willimson. Between 1952 and 1955, John enlisted in the army and took part in the Korean War. It was on his return to American ground that he found the opportunity to record his first songs as a leader for the Bihari brothers' Kent label. Four excellent tracks on which John is accompanied by Ike Turner (also producer) : “J.W.'s blues”, "Sitting here wondering", "Can't see you baby" and "Why won't you be true". Unfortunately, these tracks remained unissued for a long time. Two were released in 1970, another one in in 1985, the fourth and last in 1993.
DIG THESE BLUES
Ace
December 1955
BLUES COMPLETE
Westside
November 1960
TO KNOW A MAN
Blue Horizon
1961 / February 1963
Ces titres furent longtemps attribués à Elmore James alors que c'est bien Johnny "Big Moose" Walker qui chante en leader. La raison est probablement que Walker faisait partie à cette époque de l'orchestre d'Elmore James. En fait, ces trois morceaux avaient été enregistrés pour le label Fire de Bobby Robinson mais restèrent inédits. On peut retenir les excellents "Footrace to a resting place" et "Second fiddle man".
For a long time, these titles were attributed to Elmore James, whereas it's actually Johnny “Big Moose” Walker who sings here as a leader. The reason is probably that Walker was part of the Elmore James orchestra at the time. In fact, these three tracks had been recorded for Bobby Robinson's Fire label, but remained unreleased. We can point out the excellent "Footrace to a resting place" and "Second fiddle man".
CHICAGO CALLING
Charly
1962
A Chicago au début des années 60, John fut le pianiste régulier d'Earl Hooker. Ils enregistrèrent de nombreux titres ensemble pour le label Age. En tant que leader, John grava deux instrumentaux avec Earl Hooker à la guitare : "The bright sound" et "Off the hook".
In Chicago in the early 60's, John was Earl Hooker's regular pianist. They recorded many titles together for the Age label. As a leader, John recorded two instrumentals with Earl Hooker on guitar : “The bright sound” and “Off the hook”.
HARD TIMES
Flyright
1967
Cette fois, en compagnie du guitariste slide Freddie Roulette, il délivre trois beaux morceaux pour le label The Blues : "Rambling woman", "Puppy howl blues" et une seconde version de "Footrace to a resting place" (qui ne sera édité qu'à la sortie de ce LP Flyright).
This time, in the company of slide guitarist Freddie Roulette, he delivers three nice tracks for The Blues label : “Rambling woman”, “Puppy howl blues” and a second version of “Footrace to a resting place” (which will not be released until this Flyright LP).
AT PEPPER'S LOUNGE vol.1 & 2
Rarities
December 1968
Trois titres live obscurs gravés au Speakeasy's Club de Chicago par Johnny "Big Moose" Walker à l'orgue et Louis Myers à la guitare.
Three obscure live tracks recorded at Chicago's Speakeasy's Club by Johnny “Big Moose” Walker on organ and Louis Myers on guitar.
RAMBLING WOMAN
Bluesway
June 1969
Très actif depuis le début des années 60 à Chicago, John joue aussi bien en tant que sideman que de leader. Sa collaboration avec Bluesway commence en mai 1969 quand il accompagne Earl Hooker puis John Lee Hooker sur leurs albums respectifs pour ce label ("Don't have to worry" et "If you miss 'im I got 'im"). On peut aussi l'entendre sur le "Farther on down the road" d'Andrew "Voice" Odom. Quelques jours après, John trouve l'opportunité de graver un album en leader sous la supervision du producteur Ed Michel. Un bon album de blues, dense et inspiré, dans lequel John alterne entre piano et orgue. Il est accompagné de son ami Earl Hooker. On peut noter que ce microsillon n'a jamais été réédité en CD.
Very active in Chicago since the early 60's, John plays as a sideman as well as a leader. His collaboration with Bluesway began in may 1969 when he accompanied Earl Hooker and then John Lee Hooker on their respective albums for this label (“Don't have to worry” and “If you miss ‘im I got ’im”). He can also be heard on “Farther on down the road” by Andrew "Voice" Odom. A few days later, John found the opportunity to record a complete album as a leader under the supervision of producer Ed Michel. A good blues album, dense and inspired, in which John alternates between piano and organ. He is accompanied by his friend Earl Hooker. This LP has never been reissued on CD.
CHICAGO BLUES FROM CJ RECORDS
Wolf
March 1972
Un très bon simple enregistré pour le label CJ aux côtés de son ami le guitariste Lefty Dizz : "Tend to your business" et "Things I used to do".
A very good single recorded for the CJ label alongside his friend, guitarist Lefty Dizz : “Tend to your business” and “Things I used to do”.
THE RISING SUN COLLECTION
Just a Memory
July 1973
LIVING CHICAGO BLUES vol.2
Alligator
Sonet
1978
Cette célèbre anthologie produite par Bruce Iglauer et Richard Mac Leese propose un panorama de la scène blues de Chicago à la fin des années 70. Johnny "Big Moose" Walker, actif sur cette scène depuis très longtemps, y trouve naturellement sa place. Accompagné notamment du guitariste Louis Myers, il enregistre quatre excellents morceaux : "Would you baby", le superbe slow-blues "Worry worry", "Sunnyland blues" et "Cry cry darling".
This famous anthology produced by Bruce Iglauer and Richard Mac Leese offers an overview of the Chicago blues scene in the late 1970's. Johnny “Big Moose” Walker, who has been active on this scene for a very long time, naturally finds his place there. Accompanied by guitarist Louis Myers, he recorded four excellent tracks : “Would you baby”, the superb slow-blues "Worry worry", "Sunnyland blues" and "Cry cry darling".
GOING HOME TOMORROW
Isabel
December 1979
De passage à Paris pour la tournée française du Chicago Blues Festival, Johnny "Big Moose" Walker grave cet album sous la supervision du producteur Didier Tricard. Un beau programme de Chicago Blues avec des titres accrocheurs comme "All my love", "Eyesight to the blind", "Going home tomorrow", "I don't want your money baby", "Moose on the loose boogie".
In Paris for the Chicago Blues Festival's french tour, Johnny “Big Moose” Walker records this album under the supervision of producer Didier Tricard. A fine program of Chicago Blues with catchy tracks like “All my love”, “Eyesight to the blind”, “Going home tomorrow”, “I don't want your money baby”, “Moose on the loose boogie”.
MELLOW DOWN EASY
Ornament
Chrisly
June 1982
Un concert enregistré en Allemagne pendant une tournée européenne dans lequel Johnny est seul au piano. Un exercice un peu répétitif mais finalement plaisant qu'on conseillera avant tout aux amateurs de Piano Blues.
A concert recorded in Germany during a european tour in which Johnny is alone on piano. A somewhat repetitive but ultimately pleasant exercise that we will advise above all to Piano Blues lovers.
BLUE LOVE
Red Beans
Steeplechase
Evidence
January 1984
Pour le label Red Beans d'Erwin Helfer, Johnny propose un nouvel album studio dans lequel il joue seul au piano. Mais il y a trop peu de compositions personnelles et beaucoup de reprises pas toujours convaincantes. Un programme inégal qui plaira surtout aux amateurs confirmés. Cinq titres inédits ont été ajoutés dans la réédition CD.
For Erwin Helfer's Red Beans label, Johnny offers a new studio album in which he plays alone on piano. But there are too few personal compositions and lots of covers, not always convincing. An uneven program which will especially please confirmed amateurs. Five previously unreleased tracks have been added to the CD reissue.
CHICAGO BOUND
Wolf
October 1989
SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH
JSP
Late 1990
Une bonne séance de Chicago Blues électrique supervisée par le producteur anglais John Stedman. Johnny, en forme au piano et au chant, est accompagné notamment de l'harmoniciste Harmonica Hinds (sur deux titres) et de son ami guitariste Lefty Dizz. On apprécie, en particulier, les slow blues "Burying ground", "Drink too much" et "Annie Lee" mais aussi "Swear to tell the truth".
A good session of electric Chicago Blues supervised by english producer John Stedman. Johnny, in good shape on the piano and singing, is accompanied in particular by harmonica player Harmonica Hinds (on two tracks) and his friend guitarist Lefty Dizz. We appreciate, in particular, the slow blues "Burying ground", "Drink too much" and "Annie Lee" but also “Swear to tell the truth”.
CHICAGO BLUES AT BURNLEY BLUES FESTIVAL
JSP
March - April 1991
Trois titres sympathiques de Johnny "Big Moose" Walker sur la scène du festival de Burnley en Angleterre avec, derrière lui, Harmonica Hinds et Lefty Dizz.
Three nice songs by Johnny "Big Moose" Walker on the stage of the Burnley festival in England with, behind him, Harmonica Hinds and Lefty Dizz.