John Earl Walker

Guitarist, lyricist, and vocalist John Earl Walker became enamored with the blues at age 13, after being exposed to records by legendary guitarists of the genre such as <a href="spotify:artist:5aygfDCEaX5KTZOxSCpT9o">Albert King</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0XErJwG6aCEj7NpKsEZrrO">Magic Sam</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6nPKmEbQmR8jGZEm7ArOFX">T-Bone Walker</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5dCuFngSPyOOnTAvrC7v2s">Freddie King</a>. By his 16th birthday, <a href="spotify:artist:6nPKmEbQmR8jGZEm7ArOFX">Walker</a> had already begun playing guitar at local events and in clubs whenever possible. In 1967 he formed the blues-rock band <a href="spotify:artist:1LsXAaY1F8AwQF7m8I2pR3">the Plastic People</a>, which included bassist Pete Harris and guitarist Joey Tremelo. Three years later <a href="spotify:artist:1LsXAaY1F8AwQF7m8I2pR3">the Plastic People</a> changed their name to <a href="spotify:artist:1LsXAaY1F8AwQF7m8I2pR3">Plum Nelly</a>, recorded several albums for Capitol Records in the mid-'70s, and gained national exposure opening shows for <a href="spotify:artist:5xLSa7l4IV1gsQfhAMvl0U">B.B. King</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4y6J8jwRAwO4dssiSmN91R">Muddy Waters</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3EhbVgyfGd7HkpsagwL9GS">Alice Cooper</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:33EUXrFKGjpUSGacqEHhU4">Iggy Pop</a>, to name just a few. Following the breakup of <a href="spotify:artist:1LsXAaY1F8AwQF7m8I2pR3">Plum Nelly</a> in 1976, <a href="spotify:artist:6nPKmEbQmR8jGZEm7ArOFX">Walker</a> formed the first of several incarnations of the John Earl Walker Band. The most stable lineup was initiated in 1990 when former Housepainters drummer Bobby Infante was added, joining Harris, Tremelo, and <a href="spotify:artist:6nPKmEbQmR8jGZEm7ArOFX">Walker</a>. They released their debut CD, I'm Leaving You, in 2002, followed by Little Miss Perfect and People Are Talkin' two years later. All three discs are available on the New York-based Orchard label. ~ Al Campbell, Rovi