Johnny "Big Moose" Walker

Johnny "Big Moose" Walker (June 27, 1927 – November 27, 1999) was an American Chicago and electric blues pianist and organist. He worked with many blues musicians including Ike Turner, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Lowell Fulson, Choker Campbell, Elmore James, Earl Hooker, Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, Sunnyland Slim, Jimmy Dawkins and Son Seals.^[2]

In addition to his virtuoso piano playing, Walker was proficient on the electric organ and bass guitar, playing the latter instrument when backing Muddy Waters. As well as playing accompaniment to other musicians in both concert and recording arenas, Walker recorded a small number of solo albums.^[2]

Life and career

John Mayon Walker was born in the unincorporated community of Stoneville, Mississippi, United States, partly of Native American ancestry.^[2] He acquired his best known stage name in his childhood in Greenville, Mississippi, derived from his long flowing hairstyle.^[1] Walker learned to play a number of instruments including church organ, guitar, vibraphone and tuba.^[2]

It was as a pianist that he started his musical career in 1947, and toured in various blues bands variously backing notable artists such as Ike Turner, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Elmore James, Lowell Fulson and Choker Campbell. Walker served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1955, taking part in the Korean War.^[2] In 1955, billed as Moose John, Ultra Records released the single, "Talkin' 'Bout Me".^[3] Although his own recordings under a selection of names were unsuccessful, Walker started working more consistently in the mid 1950s, particularly backing both Earl Hooker and Elmore James.^[2] Relocating to Chicago in the late 1950s, over the next decade Walker then accompanied Sunnyland Slim, Otis Rush, Muddy Waters (on bass guitar), Ricky Allen, Little Johnny Jones, and Howlin' Wolf.^[4] In 1960, Walker accompanied Junior Wells on his best known recording, "Messin' with the Kid".^[5] The following year Walker appeared on Elmore James' recordings of "Look on Yonder Wall" and "Shake Your Moneymaker". In 1962, Walker played on Muddy Waters recording of "You Shook Me". During the 1960s, a couple of obscure Chicago based record labels, Age and The Blues, released Walker's solo singles.^[1]

By 1969, Walker had rejoined Earl Hooker and played on the latter's album, Don't Have to Worry (ABC Bluesway).^[1] Following Hooker's death the following year, Walker played backing for Jimmy Dawkins, Mighty Joe Young and Louis Myers.^[1] His own debut album was issued in 1970, when ABC released Ramblin Woman. Further piano accompaniment from Walker was supplied on Andrew Odom's Farther on the Road,^[6] and If You Miss 'Im...I Got 'Im, by John Lee Hooker featuring Earl Hooker.^[4][7]

Alligator Records utilised Walker's playing on their Living Chicago Blues series of recordings.^[1][8] He toured Europe in 1979 with the Chicago Blues Festival,^[4] saw his second album, Blue Love, released in 1984^[9] and later toured both in New Zealand and Canada.^[4] He recorded with Son Seals,^[2] and appeared at the Burnley Blues Festival in England in 1991.^[4] Walker had suffered a stroke prior to this engagement, and he had a series of others which left him unable to perform.^[4] The 1996 reissue of Blue Love by Evidence Music had five bonus tracks.^[9]

Walker lived for a while in a nursing home in Chicago before his death, at the age of 72, in November 1999.^[1]

Discography

Solo albums

^[2]

Collaboration albums

^[10][11]

See also

• List of electric blues musicians
• List of Chicago blues musicians

References

External links

• Johnny "Big Moose" Walker at AllMusic
• Photographs of Walker
• Biography and discography