Hear the Joe Louis Walker interview as he talks about his blues journey as well as songs from Witness to the Blues which is one of the top selling blues CDs right now.

.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Joe Louis Walker was born in San Francisco on Dec. 25, 1949. Joe’s interest in music started at a young age. In school he tried several different instruments but the guitar was never available for him to check out. At last Joe got his hands on the guitar, this was just what he wanted and was able to express his feeling through. In the late 60’s Joe roomed with guitarist Mike Bloomfield on an off again for about 5 years. Mike Bloomfield was in the band Electric Flag with Buddy Miles at the time. Joe said Electric Flag was way ahead of their time doing jazz-rock before Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago. Through Mike, Joe met Buddy Miles who introduced him to Jimi Hendrix. These creative people as well as others Joe was coming in contact with in the emerging San Franco seen help Joe to learn even more about playing guitar.

Joe started opening up for blues artist like Lightnin’ Hopkins as well as playing with Earl Hooker, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Otis Rush, Charlie Musselwhite, Thelonius Monk, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix and of course Mike Bloomfield. After Bloomfield’s heroin overdose in 1981 Joe changed his life style. He also started playing gospel music as well as attending San Francisco State University, where he got a degree in Music & English. In the middle if the 80’s he returned to the blues. When I spoke with Joe he said he’s planing to do more gospel music in the future.

Joe has recorded with many artist over the years like James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Robert Lockwood Jr, Ike Turner, Taj Mahal, Branford Marsalis, Scotty Moore, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Peter Green, Shemekia Copeland, BB King and many many more the Joe could not even remember.

Joe has gotten Blues Music Awards (formerly W.C. Handy Awards) for
Contemporary Male Artist of the Year 1988
Contemporary Male Artist of the Year 1991
Band of the Year 1996
He also played guitar on James Cotton’s Deep in the Blues which won a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album of 1996

Joe Louis Walker’s newsy record Witness to the Blues is no less spatuler than any of his other works. This time he has Duke Robillard producing the CD as well as playing on five tracks. Bruce Katz who is up for Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the year plays all the keyboards. Shemekia Copeland even songs a duet with Joe. So what are you waiting for turn on the show and hear Joe Louis Walker talk about Witness to the Blues. I’ll also treat you to some great songs from this CD then you too will be a witness to the blues.

Songs play in the show are:
Witness
Highview
Midnight Train
100% More Man

Joe Louis Walker Website
Joe Louis Walker MySpace
Joe Louis Walker & Duke Robillard on YouTube

Buy Joe Louis Walker’s CD Witness to the Blues at:
At Amazon.Com
At Best Buy
At Barnes & Noble

I would like to thank Joe Louis Walker for taking time out of his busy day to talk with me. Thanks to Mark Pucci for setting everything up.

.

Blues Music and Interviews
A1Blues.Com
formerly A1 Artist Spotlight. Com
by A1 Mark