JOHNNY "BIG MOOSE" WALKER/ 1955-84

 

 

JOHNNY "BIG MOOSE" WALKER/ 1955-84

 

         

  Because he recorded under many names (Big Moose, Bushy Head, Moose John, J.W. Walker and at last Johnny "Big Moose" Walker), in cities as diverse as Saint Louis, Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Johnny Mayon Walker was a shadowy figure for a long time.

            Born in Stoneville, Ms, near Greenville on 27 June 1927 from a Cherokee mother and a father who was a musical preacher, Johnny learned as a young age guitar, piano, harmonica and bass, playing the blues more than the church songs of his father. He started to play on stage with Cleanhead Love and was a regular player at the famous radio programme King Biscuit Time, playing drums or keyboards behind Joe Willie Wilkins or Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller). After a two years stint serving Uncle Sam in Korea (and playing piano at an officer's club), Johnny Walker cut his first four tracks on November 1955 in Saint Louis produced and backed by Ike Turner and his band. Unfortunately, the session remained unissued until the 70's. Later on in 1955, he waxed two tracks for the tiny Ultra (a Johnny Otis) label under the moniker of Moose John. Those tracks although issued went nowhere. But by now Moose John or Big Moose was a well known figure among blues musicians. He so toured awhile as the piano player of Lowell Fulson, Elmore James (which whom he would record in New York under the name of Bushy Head!) before relocating in Chicago. There he became a long time member of Earl Hooker's band, recording a lot behind his leader but also Junior Wells, A.C. Reed, Lilian Offitt, Ricky Allen, Jackie Brenston, Magic Sam, Muddy Waters and Curtis Jones (playing a good lead guitar for Jones' Bluesville session) and sometimes also as a leader. At last, in 1969, John recorded a very good Bluesway album with great backing by Earl Hooker. A decade later, Walker cut four magnificent tracks (his best ones to my ears, Sunnyland Train being a masterpiece) for the renowned Alligator's Living Chicago Blues series.

           

Now recognized as an important bluesman, Big Moose toured a lot, appearing in festivals and concerts in the USA as well as overseas, recording a good album in France and then an odd (but quite good) session alone on the 88s. He recorded another last album for JSP in 1992 which is currently easily available.

            Unfortunately, Johnny shortly after that suffered a stroke that prevented him to play again, bringing him on a nursing home. He died in Chicago on November 27, 1999.

            Here are gathered all his studio recordings from 1955 to 1984. Thanks a lot to all who helped with this project, particularly Bluzbug, Tom Thumb and Kansas Joe.

            Also a lot of thanks to Sebastian Danchin, Bob Eagle and Bill Dahl with their researches and interviews with Big Moose that I used on this article.

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

JOHNNY "BIG MOOSE" WALKER/ Discography

Thanks to Tom Thumb here is another (rare) track from the very first Big Moose session: 

WALKERJBM04A Why won't you be true