
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 24, 1995                   TAG: 9511240062
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BATTLE CREEK, MICH.                                LENGTH: Short

MOTOWN SAXOPHONIST JUNIOR WALKER DIES

Junior Walker, one of popular music's premiere saxophonists and leader of the Motown group Junior Walker and the All Stars, died Thursday of cancer. He was in his 50s.

According to reference books, Walker was born Autry DeWalt Jr. in Blytheville, Ark., sometime in 1942.

He started out playing in local groups in Indiana in the mid-1950s before moving to Battle Creek and forming the All Stars. The group went on to record some of Motown's most enduring hits, including ``Shotgun,'' ``What Does It Take To Win Your Love,'' ``How Sweet It Is'' and ``These Eyes.''

The group, which included guitarist Willie Woods, keyboard player Vic Thomas and drummer James Graves, was said to have gotten its name when an enthusiastic fan jumped to his feet during a show and shouted, ``These guys are all stars.''

Walker continued to tour into the '90s, sometimes with his son Autry DeWalt III backing him on drums. He had recently returned from a tour with The Four Tops, the Temptations and other Motown stars, said Woods, his friend since school days.

- Associated Press

by CNB