For decades, R&B tenor saxmen followed a given formula of extracting all manner of ‘exotic’ sound effects from their instrument. The appearance in the charts of Junior Walker, in the mid-’60s, offered a soulful alternative. His sax sound was as distinctive as his hoarse vocals, and while on “Shotgun”, “(I’m A) Road Runner”, “How Sweet It Is” and countless others, he would hit high notes only dogs could hear, overall Walker made a joyous noise. But it was his interaction with the All Stars (organ/guitar/drums) that ensured dancefloors worldwide remained mighty crowded.
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