Joe Louis Walker

Joe Louis Walker
Walker in 2007
Walker in 2007
Background information
Birth nameLouis Joseph Walker Jr.
Born (1949-12-25) December 25, 1949 (age 74)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
GenresElectric blues
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active1964–present
Labels
Websitewww.joelouiswalker.com

Louis Joseph Walker Jr. (born December 25, 1949),[1] known as Joe Louis Walker, is an American musician, best known as an electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer.[2] His knowledge of blues history is revealed by his use of older material and playing styles.[3]

NPR Music described him as "Powerful, soul-stirring, fierce and gritty...a legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues."[4] Another music journalist noted "If you define 'blues' by the rigid categories of structure rather than the flexible language of feeling allusion, Robert Cray... Larry Garner, Joe Louis Walker and James Armstrong are a new and uncategorizable breed, their music blues-like rather than blues, each of them blending ideas and devices from a variety of sources – soul, rock, jazz, gospel – with a sophistication beyond the reach of their forerunners".[5]

  1. ^ Bill Dahl. "Joe Louis Walker". Allmusic. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
  2. ^ Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
  3. ^ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues – From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 180. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  4. ^ "Joe Louis Walker in Concert". NPR Music. February 17, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  5. ^ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray (1st ed.). Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 4. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.