J  O  E

L  O  U  I  S

W  A  L  K  E  R

LEGENDARY BLUES GUITARIST/SINGER/SONGWRITER/PRODUCER

NEW RELEASE

B L U E S   C O M I N'   O N

with all-star cast of musicians

Joe Louis Walker picked up the guitar as a child, and by the time he was 16, was an in-demand musician on the local club scene, regularly backing touring blues artists rolling through town. As a 16-year-old, he was the house guitarist at San Francisco’s famed musical playground, The Matrix, where he played with or opened shows for everyone from Lightnin’ Hopkins to Jimi Hendrix to Thelonious Monk. In addition to his work at The Matrix, he was a regular at Bill Graham’s famed Fillmore West. San Francisco’s music scene was quickly becoming a melting pot of blues, jazz and psychedelic rock, and Walker was right in the center of it. These ear-opening surroundings explain the ease with which Walker blends blues, rock, gospel, jazz and country, making it seem as if the walls between the genres never existed in the first place.



The blues legends Walker accompanied shared not only musical knowledge but also their personal wisdom with the teenage up-and-comer. Fred McDowell, Ike Turner, Albert King, Freddie King, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Lightnin’ Hopkins and many others taught, fed and chastised the youngster. Blues icon Willie Dixon told him to set his sights high. “What’s your style? You need your own sound,” Dixon preached. Walker took the advice to heart and developed his own fiery, melodic and always unpredictable guitar attack.



Walker met legendary guitarist Michael Bloomfield in 1968 and the two became fast friends. Bloomfield introduced Walker to many of the day’s top rockers, including Sly Stone, Carlos Santana, Steve Miller, Bob Weir (of the Grateful Dead), Jorma Kaukonen (of Jefferson Airplane) and even jazz legend Wayne Shorter. Bloomfield helped push Walker’s blues in a more rock-fueled direction, and he became the single biggest influence on the young Walker’s sound. The two shared an apartment for years and remained close friends until Bloomfield’s death in 1981.



Walker has released 24 albums and toured the world virtually non-stop. He has garnered four Blues Music Awards (and has been nominated a whopping 52 times) and holds an international reputation as one of the blues’ most prolific and talented stars. He’s also recorded as a guest with some of the blues world’s best-known artists, including appearances on Grammy-winning records by B.B. King and James Cotton.



His latest release is entitled BLUES COMIN' ON joined by a host of talented friends and peers on this superb studio album. Features guest performances by fellow blues icons Keb' Mo', Eric Gales, and Albert Lee plus Detroit soul singer Mitch Ryder, harmonica virtuoso Lee Oskar, Hot Tuna's Jorma Kaukonen, punk rock vocalist Charlie Harper, legendary session player Waddy Wachtel, and many others. This album explodes with the passionate playing and souful melodies that have made Walker a favorite among true blues aficionados including The Rolling Stones!  -Available at amazon.com

Purchase the new album

by

JOE LOUIS WALKER

 entitled

BLUES COMIN' ON

Soulful blues phenom, and Blues Hall Of Fame inductee, Joe Louis Walker is joined by a host of talented friends and peers on this superb studio album. Features guest performances by fellow blues icons Keb' Mo', Eric Gales, and Albert Lee plus Detroit soul singer Mitch Ryder, harmonica virtuoso Lee Oskar, Hot Tuna's Jorma Kaukonen, punk rock vocalist Charlie Harper, legendary session player Waddy Wachtel, and many others. This album explodes with the passionate playing and souful melodies that have made Walker a favorite among true blues aficionados including The Rolling Stones!

Available at amazon.com

For more information about Joe Louis Walker

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DISCOGRAPHY

Albums

Blues Comin' On (HighTone, 2020)

Everybody Wants a Piece (Provogue, 2015)

Hornet's Nest (Alligator Records, 2014)

Hellfire (Alligator Records, 2012)

Between A Rock and The Blues (Stony Plain Music, 2009)

Witness to the Blues (Stony Plain Music, 2008)

Playin' Dirty (JSP, 2006)

New Direction (Provogue, 2004)

Ridin' High (HighTone, 2003)

She's My Money Maker (JSP, 2002/03)

Guitar Brothers (JSP Records, 2002)

Pasa Tiempo (Evidence Music, 2002)

In the Morning (Telarc, 2002)

Silvertone Blues (Polydor/Polygram, 1999)

Preacher and the President (Polydor/Polygram, 1998)

Great Guitars (Polydor/Polygram, 1997)

Blues of the Month Club (Polydor/Polygram, 1995)

JLW (Polydor/Polygram, 1994)

Blues Survivor (Polydor/Polygram, 1993)

Live at Slim's, Volume Two (HighTone, 1992)

Live at Slim's, Volume One (HighTone, 1991)

Blue Soul (HighTone, 1989)

The Gift (HighTone, 1988)

Cold Is the Night (HighTone, 1986)

DVDs

Live At 'On Broadway' (Blues Express, 2001)

Joe Louis Walker in Concert (inakustik, 2003)

Viva Las Vegas Live (DVD plus CD; Cleopatra Blues, 2019)