Phillip Walker (February 11, 1937 – July 22, 2010) was an American electric blues guitarist, most noted for his 1959 hit single, "Hello My Darling", produced by J. R. Fulbright. Although Walker continued playing throughout his life, he recorded more sparsely.He released ten albums as leader between 1990 and 2003.
Walker was born in Welsh, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, the seventh of twelve children of Malvin and Viola Weber Walker, sharecroppers.Phillip became interested in music at a young age. Not being able to afford a guitar of his own, he constructed his first instrument from a cigar box, using the thinnest wire he could find (carefully and secretly removed from the family’s window screens) for strings. He had a natural ear and a God-given musical talent, and became very good quite early. He spent every spare minute, when he wasn’t working in the fields or helping herd or brand cattle, learning his instrument.
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If being the biggest kid didn't pay off much in being sent into the fields young, it at least enabled him (with the aid of the fake mustache his friends encouraged him to wear) to enter the local jukes, taverns and dance halls under age. So Phillip was able to sit in, from age 15 with local bluesmen and traveling musicians who showed up regularly. He continued to work in the fields all day. Phillip's first recording was made in 1952, at 17, as a sideman with Roscoe Gordon. He frequently worked with Lonesome Sundown and Long John Hunter.
It was in 1953 that Phillip met Clifton Chenier, when Chenier played a local club. It was Clifton who gave Phillip his first genuine, bona fide guitar and, against his father’s better judgment, took Phillip on the road. Phillip toured with Clifton and his band, recording with Clifton on the Specialty, Chess & Argo Labels and as part of an R&B package (which included performers such as Lloyd Price, Etta James, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy Reed, Little Richard, and others) and he toured the south working theatre dates, clubs and concert halls, continuing to make a living with his music whenever, wherever he could.
Striking out on his own, he formed the Blue Eagles Band, to tour with Fats Domino/Little Richard big 10 package, in 1955, and did shows across the United States for the next few years. There was work at the Black & Tan Bar, El Paso, Texas in 1957 and The Lobby Inn, Juarez, Mexico. In 1958 he worked clubs in Farmington, New Mexico, Arizona, Chicago, Ohio and as far Northeast as the Apollo Theater in New York City (and recorded on the Elko label). He decided to move out to the West Coast, and relocated there for good in 1959. Phillip teamed up with Ina Beatrice Gilkey known as “Bea Bopp,” and they worked the Perkins Club and others in the Los Angeles area.
Ina Beatrice was a talented songwriter who sang but did not play any instrument. Phillip backed her on his guitar. Phil and Bea Bopp collaborated on a number of songs, some of which they recorded on the Gilkey (Ina Beatrice’s maiden American-Indian name) label. In 1963, Phillip married Ina Beatrice and they worked local Los Angeles clubs regularly as the “Phil & Bea Bopp” Show. Phillip also recorded on the AMC label in Los Angeles in 1963. Phillip frequently recorded as sideman for Model T. Slim (Elmond Mickel), Eddie Taylor, Teddy Reynolds and others through the 60's.
Work in Texas was beginning to decline, but Phillip still managed to get gigs there, and toured for several years in LA, Texas and points in between. By 1966 Phillip was working hard. He had his own band, was recording (on the Vault & Joliet labels, Chicago) and was working club dates throughout Texas and Los Angeles. In 1969 he recorded with Johnny Shines & Eddie Taylor (on the Advent label out of Hollywood/Glendale, California). He frequently worked local club dates in the Los Angeles area (including the Ash Grove, Topanga Corral, & Rick’s Bar).
In 1973 Phillip recorded "The Bottom of The Top" (his first solo album) for Hugh Hefner’s short-lived Playboy label. Further albums were released on Black Top, Hightone, JSP, Joliet, and Rounder Records. Walker was also known for his variety of styles and the changes he would often make for each album. Not until 1969 did he begin to record more regularly, when he joined with the record producer, Bruce Bromberg. And all the while, the tours continued. Phillip Walker has played every major festival in the world, headlining most inEngland, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Scotland, Spain, France, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Australia, Austria, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, and Japan, including an October 2009 stint in South Africa.
Walker died of apparent heart failure at 4:30 AM, early Thursday morning, July 22, 2010 in Palm Springs, Riverside County, California. He was 73 years old." He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
(Edited
from Phillip Walker.com & Wikipedia)