Joe Louis Walker is the living history of the blues. A talented singer, guitarist from San Francisco, Walker has crossed paths with everyone and put his own imprint on the music. You want stories about everyone from Lightnin’ Hopkins, Thelonius Monk, and Muddy Waters to Derek Trucks, Charlie Haden, and Lionel Richie? You want to go deep on James Cotton, B.B. King, and Walker’s close friend and roommate Mike Bloomfield? How about a Bill Graham impression and a first-hand account of the night of the legendary promoter’s death? Sonny Boy Williamson II, Steve Miller, Joe Williams, Hunter S. Thompson, Earl Hooker, The Grateful Dead? We’ve got it all in this extended, exclusive audio interview.
Mike Bloomfield (Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Bob Dylan, Electric Flag) is still recognized as one of the most important blues guitarists of all-time. Walker was riding shotgun for much of this run, until Bloomfield’s untimely death at the age of 37. Bloomfield was “a conduit from old to young, blues to soul, blues to jazz, black to white,” Walker said, “All of the older guys respected Michael. Michael would always take care of people.” Bloomfield’s character is featured in the current box-office smash, A Complete Unknown, where Dylan goes electric at the Newport Folk Festival.
Born Louis Joseph Walker, Jr., he was nicknamed “Joe Louis” by his older sister to honor the legendary boxing champion, one of the most high-profile black Americans at that time, and “it just stuck.” Walker has gone on to a remarkable six-decade career in the music business that began in the Bay Area melting pot of the 60’s and continues to this day. He has recorded 30 albums, won multiple W.C. Handy/Blues Music Awards, and is a member of the Blues Hall of Fame. He is able to shift his sound from record to record and can play everything from electric and country blues to jazz, funk, gospel, rock, and more. NPR calls him “a legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues.” Walker’s most recent record is The Weight of the World was released in 2022. A particular highlight on that album is “Is It a Matter of Time?”, which features Walker in full soul/STAX mode and stellar horn playing and arrangement by Mark Pender. Another enjoyable recent release was 2020’s Blues Comin’ On, where Walker duets with the likes of Dion, Eric Gales, Keb’ Mo’, Mitch Ryder, Waddy Wachtel, Carla Cooke, and others. At age 75, the Hudson Valley resident will play a limited tour in 2025 both overseas and at several East Coast cities, including Sellersville, PA on March 1 and Beacon, NY on April 5. Walker’s music and stories continue to be a treasure for blues fans everywhere.
Joe Louis Walker – “Is It a Matter of Time?”:
Joe Louis Walker feat. Eric Gales – “Comin’ On”:
James Cotton feat. Joe Louis Walker “Two Trains Runnin":
B.B. King Kennedy Center Honors – feat. Joe Louis Walker, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, etc.:
